37 teachers have died due to Covid-19 complications, TSC – KBC

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) CEO Nancy Macharia has Monday revealed that 37 teachers in secondary schools have passed on due to Covid-19.

Speaking during the release of exam results for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Macharia said the 37 teachers who had passed on include 24 principals, three deputy principals and 10 class teachers.

The TSC CEO in light of the high number of deaths said that as of May 8^th, 151,494 teachers had been vaccinated urging more teachers to get vaccinated.

“TSC is impressed with the high rate of the Covid-19 vaccine uptake constituting 48.9 per cent females and 51 per cent males,” she said.

To alleviate the financial burden on teachers, Macharia added that TSC had provided full medical cover for Covid related ailments.

Further, through Minet Kenya, TSC according to Macharia have a medical insurance app “Walimucare App” that allows teachers to access telemedicine.

Macharia also noted that the Ministry of Health has accepted TSC’s request to open up a vaccination centre at TSC headquarters.

On exam malpractice, the TSC boss said that they had resolved to launch a transparent process of Biometric Enrolment and Validation of Teachers in all public schools.

“This will entail enlisting fingerprints which can then allow for forensic and intelligence-led investigations in cases where examination papers are tampered with and also where cell phones and other gadgets are used to commit malpractices,” she said.

Macharia in addition said that the rollout of the biometric capture of all teachers was at the tail end of consultations with the Office of the Data Commissioner.