President Kenyatta has ordered the Ministry of Education to review the ongoing teacher delocalisation program so that families are not affected negatively by the movement of teachers.

“The ongoing delocalisation program has created some unforeseen challenges that have, in some instances, affected families negatively,” said President Kenyatta.

The delocalisation program, which entails the transfer of teachers, mostly head teachers to schools away from their home areas with the objective of improving their effectiveness, is one of the grievous issues The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) want to be addressed ahead of the planned nationwide teachers strike in September.

“We shall stand against delocalization of teachers, which is breaking families and hurting education and other accompanying policies that we were not consulted,” said KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion.

KNUT is also demanding for a review of the teacher’s performance appraisal and development system (TPAD), which they say is enslaving.

“TPAD and appraisal is a slavery system which must be abolished and teachers particularly those who have acquired new and higher qualification must get promotion. We are very clear about the promotion of teachers. It is an intellectual right, therefore it is not negotiable nor reduceable,” said Mr Sossion.

Sossion has maintained that teachers are ready to go on strike and schools will not resume for the third term if those demands are not met by their employer, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

The union is however hopeful that a meeting scheduled for 21st August with TSC will address these issues and avert the strike.

“The government has called for a meeting on August 21, we will go, We will go for the meeting. If things are ironed out there will be no strike. Clear those issues and we will be in class on September 1,” Mr Sossion said.