The debate on whether the Teachers Service Commission’s powers should be reduced has been debated for a while. KNUT thinks its time to reconstitute TSC while KUPPET are not of the same opinion.

TSC is mandated by the constitution to register, employ, promote and transfer all licensed teachers under its payroll. TSC is also required by the constitution to send teachers to any public schools or institutions across the country, monitor their discipline while on duty and fire them when the need arises.

In a proposal to the Building Bridges Initiative task force by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), the union wants TSC to be registered under the ministry of education as just an organization. It also wants the commission to be stripped of its constitutional powers.

The proposal has received a major boost by the Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) and Kenya Association of International Schools (KAIS) who also feel it will be well if TSC is established as a strong independent body under the ministry of education.

The Sossion’s lead union also wants the ministry of finance to allocate TSC their budget as that could help reduce complications in the service’s relationship with the ministry. However, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), have rubbished KNUT’s proposals and have vowed to oppose any attempt to disband the TSC.

KUPPET officials have vowed to stand strong in supporting TSC to be the body that will continue to manage all the teachers’ affairs in the country.