In Kenya, both primary and secondary schools are provided with codes of conduct by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to enhance the simple, fair, and effective management of discipline cases among teachers.
For instance, in secondary schools, the Boards of Management are mandated to interdict a teacher during the investigation process if he/she is found guilty of professional misconduct.
Secondary schools’ principals are only interdicted by the County directors. Deputy County directors are entitled to interdict primary school headteachers and also secondary school teachers (in schools where the BoM is inactive).
Sub-county directors should interdict primary school teachers. The TSC Chief Executive Officer interdicts staff members following the guidelines provided by TSC, only if investigations are established by the head office.
Reasons that can commence interdiction of a teacher:
- Abandonment of Duties.
- Relinquishment of Duty.
- Defiance of authority.
- Poor management of public funds.
- Conviction of criminal offence.
When a teacher is found guilt of immorality, the following evidences must be provided for he/she to be interdicted:
- Victims/Witnesses should provide a handwritten statement.
- Legal proceedings
- County Directors or Sub-county Director’s investigation reports.
- Written minutes by the BoM on student and teachers interview reports.
In case a teacher is convicted of a criminal offence he/she is immediately interdicted. However, the following evidences must be provided:
- A sheet showing the nature of offence.
- Authentic copies of legal proceedings and judgement.
- Victim return indicating the date of arrest/imprisonment.
- Arrest reports from the authority.
If a teacher is found guilty of professional misconduct, he/she gets deregistered immediately. Therefore he/she should not partake in activities entailing the teaching profession in Kenya.
After investigation, if the teacher is considered innocent, interdiction should be nullified. However, he/she is warned through writing, surcharged, or even suspended for not more than six months.
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