Questions have been raised over the fairness of the ongoing Teachers Service Commission (TSC) promotion exercise after claims emerged that teachers serving in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) have been unable to apply despite meeting the required qualifications.
The matter has now reached the Senate, with calls for an explanation on whether the promotion process has treated all teachers equally.
Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri has formally petitioned the Senate, asking the Committee on Education to investigate the concerns surrounding the promotion exercise. She says the issue affects thousands of teachers serving in Junior Secondary Schools and deserves urgent attention.
According to the senator, reports indicate that many qualified JSS teachers were unable to take part in the exercise because the TSC online application portal only recognised teachers deployed to primary and secondary schools.
“Concerns have arisen that qualified teachers serving in Junior Secondary Schools have been excluded in the exercise as the online application system recognises teachers deployed to primary and secondary schools,” Okenyuri said.
She wants the committee to establish whether JSS teachers were indeed left out of the exercise and determine whether such an outcome is in line with the commission's human resource policies and career progression framework.
The senator is also seeking an explanation on the criteria TSC is using to identify teachers eligible for promotion. She wants the commission to clarify whether the current promotion system fully accommodates teachers serving at the junior secondary level.
Okenyuri is further asking whether TSC plans to make changes to its promotion framework and online application system so that qualified JSS teachers are able to submit applications and compete for available positions.
She also wants the committee to find out what action will be taken to ensure eligible teachers deployed to Junior Secondary Schools are given the same opportunity to advance in their careers as those serving in primary and secondary schools.
“Whether TSC intends to review the ongoing promotion framework and online application system to enable qualified JSS teachers to apply for promotional opportunities,” she said.
In her request, Okenyuri is calling for measures that will prevent teachers from being disadvantaged because of the level of education where they have been assigned to teach.
She argues that every teacher who meets the required qualifications should enjoy equal access to promotions, professional development and career growth.
“The measures to ensure all qualified teachers, regardless of their level of deployment, have equitable access to promotion, professional development and career advancement opportunities,” she said.
The petition follows growing concerns over the career progression of teachers working in Junior Secondary Schools under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Okenyuri says teachers who have satisfied the required qualifications and performance standards should not miss promotion opportunities because of restrictions within an online application system or because they are deployed to a particular level of learning.
She has asked the Senate Committee on Education to engage the Teachers Service Commission and determine whether the current promotion arrangements meet the commission's own human resource policies and uphold the principles of fairness and equal opportunity.
The committee is expected to consider the request and provide a response on the issues raised.
According to the senator, resolving the concerns will help restore confidence among Junior Secondary School teachers and ensure opportunities for promotion and professional growth are shared fairly across the teaching service.