NAIROBI, Kenya – The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is facing mounting criticism for continuing to exclude teachers aged over 45 from its recruitment processes, despite a 2019 court ruling declaring the age restriction unconstitutional.
Members of Parliament have condemned the TSC’s disregard for the Employment and Labour Relations Court’s decision, which deemed the age limit discriminatory and a violation of the right to equal opportunity.
Soy MP David Kiplagat led the charge, requesting a statement from the National Assembly’s Education Committee to explain why teachers above 45 years of age have not been employed, despite meeting all recruitment requirements.
He further demanded reports on the number of qualified teachers over 45 who remain unemployed and the number absorbed in the recent recruitment.
Tinderet MP and Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education, Julius Melly, also voiced concern over the TSC’s failure to comply with the court ruling, stating that the issue had been actively reviewed by the committee.
Kiplagat emphasized that the TSC’s exclusionary practices continue despite Kenya’s severe teacher shortage, with over 110,000 vacancies, including 72,422 in junior secondary schools alone.
The MPs have called for affirmative action to address the plight of teachers above 45 years, urging the TSC to adjust its recruitment framework and provide employment opportunities before these teachers reach the mandatory retirement age of 60.
This scrutiny follows recent allegations that the TSC promoted teachers based on skewed interview scores, further fueling criticism of the commission’s recruitment and promotion practices.
