The dignity and expertise of the teaching profession are under direct threat. In a glaring case of professional misallocation, a dedicated English teacher in the Junior Secondary School (JSS) sector has been forced by the current system to stand in front of a class and teach Mathematics and Integrated Science—subjects for which she was not trained.
This is not just an administrative error; it is a fundamental disrespect for the specialized training teachers undergo and a violation of their professional integrity. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) must be held accountable for a deployment strategy that treats teachers as interchangeable parts rather than skilled professionals. This practice sets a dangerous precedent, increases teacher workload exponentially, and ultimately cheats our children of a quality education.
Why Every Teacher in Kenya Should Be Concerned:
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ERODING PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS: If an English teacher can be forced to teach Maths, what stops the TSC from deploying any teacher to any subject, rendering specialization and advanced training meaningless?
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UNSUSTAINABLE WORKLOAD: This policy forces educators to spend countless unpaid hours scrambling to learn new curricula, leading to burnout and driving talented individuals away from the profession.
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A CALL TO ACTION: This teacher’s courage to speak out is a rallying cry for all educators. It is time for the unions and the TSC to address this crisis head-on and ensure teachers are placed in positions that match their qualifications and expertise.
