The much-anticipated Biometric registration of teacher’s countrywide kicks-off in Uasin Gishu County where teachers are expected to turn up for the exercise at the Union Primary School in Eldoret town.
Speaking during the exercise, Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Rift Valley Regional Director, Mr Adow Mohammed Bardad, called on teachers to turn out in large numbers and register in the shortest time possible to enhance service delivery and efficiency within the profession.
“The biometric registration of the teachers will involve the usage of their fingerprints to capture details. Additionally, each teacher will have to produce their National Identity Card or Birth Certificate and any other relevant identification documents such as employment or designation letters,” He indicated.
The Director noted the exercise will also reveal teacher distribution based on subject combinations and will unearth staffing gaps that will inform training needs for various subject areas.
“The electronic registration of teachers will help in achieving verified teacher distribution and utilization, area of teaching specialization, enrolment in public schools, and employment records. It will assist in weeding out ghost workers as well.” he insisted.
Mr Barda mentioned the process has kicked-off in Uasin Gishu as a pioneer exercise but will be extended to Homa Bay, Bungoma, Nyeri, Kilifi, Kitui and Garissa counties.
He said the areas were selected because they represent both rural and urban setups with 143 institutions sampled from the areas consisting of primary, secondary and teachers training colleges.
The Deputy Director Records Management TCS, Mr George Oketch, added that the personnel handling the biometric machine have undergone thorough training expressing confidence that they will conduct the exercise to perfection.
“The biometric gadget does not need internet connection to work and data security mechanisms have been enhanced to prevent any information leakage.
Mr Oketch said enlisting of teachers is also expected to help the Commission to balance the teaching staff since it will unravel the imbalances across all public schools.
The exercise saw 31 teachers from Union Primary School registered under the new biometric registration of teachers and will be further conducted in other learning institutions within the County.
The exercise is expected to cover all the 321,811 teachers in 32,004 basic education institutions across the Country by the end of the exercise.
By Hassan Adan Ali
