Teachers strike: TSC advertises 70,000 temporary positions

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) chairman Lydia Nzomo (left) with Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia at a press conference at the TSC head office in Nairobi on September 5, 2015. The TSC has advertised positions for 70,000 relief tutors. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• According to the TSC, the 70,000 teachers will supplement around 45,000 others who are already on duty.
• Currently, there are 288,000 teachers employed by the TSC.
• The applicants must also be registered as teachers as required by Section 23 of the Teachers Service Commission Act

By MARYANNE GICOBI
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The fate of the striking teachers now hangs in the balance after their employer advertised positions for 70,000 relief tutors.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) says it is recruiting 50,000 primary school teachers and 20,000 secondary school teachers on a three-month contract.

The TSC announced the hiring in an advertisement to appear in local dailies on Thursday.

The application deadline is Monday, October 5, and the teachers should apply through their county directors of education.

The contract teachers are expected to restore learning that has been paralysed for a month now due to the teachers’ strike.

“The teachers will be hired on a three-month contract and will thereafter be considered on a priority basis for employment on permanent terms when vacancies arise,” reads the letter by the TSC’s chief executive officer, Ms Nancy Macharia.

According to the TSC, the 70, 000 teachers will supplement around 45,000 others who are already on duty.

Currently, there are 288,000 teachers employed by the TSC.

School administrators — heads of institutions, their deputies and the senior teachers — have been on duty, as they usually do not take part in strikes.

BELOW 45 YEARS

The employer is looking for teachers who are below 45 years old, are Kenyan citizens and have original professional and academic certificates.

The applicants must also be registered as teachers as required by Section 23 of the Teachers Service Commission Act.

“All applicants, both Primary and Secondary should submit their applications together with certified copies of certificates, transcripts, testimonials and ID Card to the TSC County Directors of their respective home counties not later than 5th October, 2015,” says Ms Macharia.

Those applying for vacancies in primary schools are required to be holders of a P1 certificate whereas applicants for vacancies in secondary schools must be holders of a minimum of a diploma in education certificate.

The TSC has advertised vacancies available in each county.

Successful applicants are asked not fill employment forms in more than one station as this will lead to disqualification.