Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji has threatened to charge Teachers Service Commission (TSC) officials for failing to implement policies that protect teachers posted in volatile areas.
Speaking during a TSC stakeholders’ forum in Garissa town, the DPP called upon the commissioners to come up with a speedy resolution, which would be crucial in addressing the problems of teachers who are suffering due to constant insecurities.
“If you are not going to address the issues of teachers, we will become a burden for the whole of Kenya and this problem will come at your doorstep. We cannot have one teacher in a school, this is not the Kenya of today I am acceptable,” he confirmed.
He poked holes in the Nancy Macharia-led administration, stating that the commission was solely responsible for the safety of teachers, but that their plight was unheard of.
He said the ongoing trend is worrying and the issue needs to be treated with utmost urgency-failure, the entire commission will be dealt with positively.
“Under Section 7 of the Children’s Act, I can blame Kenyans and the entire commission for refusing to provide education to children,” he said.
He further called for the creation of a department within the TSC to deal with the plight of tutors in areas which are considered as highly volatile areas.
He said that the task of the department would be to find solutions to ensure that all children have access to their fundamental right to education.
“It is high time that in the north, including in hostile areas like Samburu, we should have a department that will look into that, which will use statistics and data to find an amicable solution,” he said.
Haji’s remarks come days after the government shifted hundreds of KCPE/KCSE candidates scheduled to appear in the national examinations in the coming week. The students were relocated from areas affected by the bandit attacks, such as Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
The move was taken after Rift Valley regional commissioner Mohammed Maalim held a meeting with education stakeholders to ensure the safety of candidates.
“I’ve already started a meeting with county commissioners, the regional security intelligence committee, and education officials during this week.”
“We will have that meeting so that we can put in place security measures and other logistics to ensure that we can go smoothly,” he said.
Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) will start from March 7, 2022, while Kenya National Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) is scheduled to start from March 12, 2022.
