Officials of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in the Counties warn that disciplinary action will be meted out to teachers who miss classes to attend IEBC training.
Some officials said that by attending the training, primary school teachers would jeopardize the academic performance of pupils because they had a critical CBC national assessment to complete.
Others, however, have made it clear that teachers must carry out their responsibilities when classes are in progress and must be on available to assist learners.
During elections, many teachers serve as Presiding Officers (POs), Deputy Presiding Officers (DPOs), and Clerks in temporary IEBC positions.
The electoral body plans to train the presiding officers, deputy presiding officers, and clerks before the August 9 election.
Early next week, IEBC will begin training Presiding Officers and Deputy Presiding Officers. The training will begin on July 31 and last through August 3, 2022.
However, there will be school from August 1 through August 3, so if teachers attend the training, it will interfere with their responsibilities.
The clerks’ training will take place from August 5 to August 6, 2022. According to the school calendar, students will still be in class on August 5.
Teachers have gotten warnings verbally in some Sub Counties, but in others, like Rachuonyo North, they have received them in writing.
“Some Heads of Institutions are releasing teachers to attend an authorized IEBC training during working hours, it has come to my attention. Without prior approval from TSC, no teacher should participate in any training during regular business hours, according to a memo.
He also warned school administrators who release teachers for the IEBC training that they would be held accountable.
Teachers and their employers have previously clashed over absences from work to attend unapproved programs.
Teachers attended the Deputy Presiding Officer and Clerk interviews last month when IEBC welcomed candidates for positions as presiding officers; however, they took place during the school day.
Despite warnings from County Directors, Sub County Directors, Curriculum Support Officers, and Human Resource Officers, teachers showed up for the interviews.
TSC then issued a statement that it has not barred teachers from attending the interviews Through its official Facebook and Twitter handles TSC asked teachers to dismiss such news.
This contradicted with what TSC officials at the Counties and Sub Counties passed to teachers clearly indicating TSC Upper Hill officials have no issues with teachers taking part in the IEBC temporary jobs.
The Commission has however being warning teachers against taking part in active political engagements.
In Circular number 14/2020 dated 1/12/2020 the Commission prohibits teachers against taking part in any active political engagements while still in service of the Commission; and further requiring them to refrain from:
(1) holding office in a political party;
(2) engaging in a political activity that may compromise or be seen to compromise the political neutrality of the office they hold;
(3) publicly indicating support for or opposition to any political party or candidate in an election; and
(4) engaging in activities of any political party or candidate, or act as an agent of a political party or candidate in an election.
According to TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia, it is crucial for all employees of the Commission to adhere to strict observance of the law in respect hereof by abstaining from participating in political engagements.
This is in line with the spirit of national values and good governance under the Constitution, which includes impartiality and political neutrality.
In this context, she gave a directive to all Commission employees to abstain from participating in partisan political activities while doing official duties.
Any employee who holds political office or participates in political activity, according to Macharia, is against the law and subject to disciplinary action.
She advised such employees to resign from their positions immediately .
She adds that disciplinary action will be taken if the Circular’s directives are breached.
For their part, teachers claim that because of the high cost of food and general inflation, they feel pressured to accept jobs with the IEBC. Many teachers claim that their low pay, which already goes toward loans, hampers them from doing their jobs.
