Principals under pressure to pick TSC team

Written By:KBC reporters,    Posted: Mon, Jan 07, 2013

MPs last week rejected the list Pressure continues to mount on President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to present a new list of nominees to the Teachers Service Commission before the life of the 10th parliament comes to a close on Monday 14th. This even as it emerges that failure by the two Principals to do so before the current parliament wraps up its sittings will mean this can only be done by the eleventh parliament, a situation that may spell doom to the education sector. Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo has urged Kibaki and Raila to move fast and nominate the commissioners. "I appeal to the Principals to nominate the commissioners before the dissolution of the current Parliament to avoid embarrassment" he added.   MPs last week vehemently rejected the list citing failure by the two Principals to observe meritocracy and gender representation. Whereas the Kenya Institute of Education Director Dr. Lydia Nzomo topped the list of those eyeing the position of the chairperson with 80.3 points, legislators questioned why she was left out of the list forwarded to parliament. Such was the situation for Said Twahir who scored 69.3 points. The legislators also faulted names of the proposed commissioners, questioning how the two principals settled on the names of James Ziro who was number seven with 68.6 points, Fredrick Ochieng who scored 71.6 points, and Adan Abdulahi who scored 70.3 points. The two Principals are now required to submit a fresh list of nominees to parliament before Monday next week, failure to which it will mean nominees to the commission, will have to wait until the eleventh parliament comes in place. This education experts warn may spell doom to the education sector, given the noble role the commission plays in guiding education matters and policies in the country. The Teachers Service Commission which was formed in compliance with Chapter 15 of the Constitution, is expected to take over from the Commission currently led by Gabriel Lengoiboni