Photograph — reuters

In the early hours of Tuesday, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) called on the country’s North-Eastern political leaders to stop attacks on local teachers in the region.

Last month, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) relocated thousands of non-indigenous teachers from Wajir, Mandera and Garissa counties following terror attacks targeted at them. So far, TSC has transferred over 900 teachers in Wajir county and several others in Garissa and Mandera region.

Meanwhile, over 250 schools have been forced to close due to lack of teachers and those that are still functioning are run by the headteachers and a few other members of the teaching staff.

Over time, the North-Eastern region of Kenya has had to deal with constant terrorist attacks by the Al-Shabaab group. In 2014, the group ambushed a Nairobi-bound bus in Mandera, killing 28 passengers, most of whom were teachers.

Moreover, the decision made by TSC to transfer teachers to safer locations came as a result of the January 13th attack by the terrorist group at the Kamuthe Resource Centre, leading to the death of three teachers.

However, political leaders in the affected counties are opposed to the decision made by TSC. According to them, the relocation of teachers has paralyzed learning in the region and in a bid to take action, several governors including Garissa’s Ali Korane and Wajir’s Mohamed Abdi, have threatened to sue TSC for the transfer of all non-indigenous teachers.

Political leaders are calling for an urgent meeting to resolve the stand-off to an almost crippled educational sector in the country. Despite significant progress in Kenya’s educational sector, counties in the north are still far behind, the leaders have blamed the lack of adequate teachers, harsh climatic conditions and terrorism for their lapses.

Reacting to the issue, Kuppet Secretary-General Akelo Misori said that the union is alarmed by the attacks on teachers from political leaders who should be providing solutions to the problem. It called on the leaders of the affected regions, to work closely with the government in addressing the issue of insecurity and terror attacks rather than blaming the victims.

The National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale has summoned the TSC and Education Cabinet Secretary, Prof George Magoha, before the Parliament to explain the measures the Ministry is taking to resolve the education crisis in the region.

Political leaders in the northern region need to stand up and provide solutions to the problem instead of pointing fingers. The government should release military troops that will safeguard the regions and not expect teachers to risk their lives when there are no visible efforts put in place by the leaders to ensure their safety.

With the ongoing attacks, it is likely that more teachers will flee the region or be transferred by the TSC if the leaders in question do not make any major effort in tackling the issue of insecurity.

By Faith Ikade.

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