Kenyan Teacher Service Commision Condemns Sexual Harassment in Private Schools

Kenyan Teacher Service Commision

The Teachers Service Commission has accused teachers in private schools of perpetuating sexual harassment of students. In a statement sent to the Star yesterday, TSC secretary Gabriel Lengoiboni says TSC's initial inquiries following reports in the media point to private schools as the most affected.

He said: "It is, however, noted that most of these people being referred to as teachers are not, in fact, academically and professionally qualified to be teachers." Lengoiboni has asked school management boards and proprietors hire professionally qualified teachers who are registered with TSC.

Article 237 of the constitution mandates the TSC to carry out all teacher management functions including registration of qualified teachers, maintenance of teaching standards and safeguarding professionalism in the teaching service.

Lengoiboni told all unregistered teachers to register with TSC. The commission has demanded that all private learning institutions put mechanisms and structures in place to address sexual abuse in line with the constitution, the Teachers Service Commission Act and the Children's Act.

"Any case of sexual abuse should be promptly reported to the Teachers Service Commission and or the police for necessary action," Lengoiboni said.

He said no pupil should be subjected to torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in any manner whether physical or psychological as stated in Section 36 of the Basic Education Act.