Commentary: Peter Tabichi, a true embodiment of the Kenyan teacher

Today, the giant union that represents all teachers in Kenya was present at a thanksgiving ceremony in Nakuru, where the global teacher of the year, Mr. Peter Tabichi was hosted to huge party.

KNUT was represented by Collins Oyuu who is the 1st National chairman and the Nakuru branch executive secretary brother Paul Muiru.

In a speech read for him, KNUT SG Wilson Sossion, said teachers of Kenya are resilient, focused and driven by the love for their learners.

He said many teachers, just like Peter Tabichi have been posted to schools where majority of the students are poor and living within a community riddled with drug abuse, poverty, sickness, teen pregnancies and all manner of social evils.

Most of those teachers working in hardship circumstances sacrifice their own happiness, finances, families and choose to rise above the poor circumstances to make a difference, even when it was easier to opt out of the profession.

“Peter Tabichi is a reminder to Kenyans of the numerous sacrifices our teachers make, most of which go unnoticed. In a country where teachers are overworked and underpaid, Mr Tabichi’s story challenges us to do more with less,” said Sossion.

Collins Oyuu, speaking at the event, said TSC needs to re-look into the contracting and performance tool that they are applying on teachers.

How come the tool was not able to pick out Tabichi Mokaya for the Teacher of the Year Award?

Oyuu later presented to Teacher Peter Mokaya Tabichi (a KNUT member) a trophy and an award from KNUT.

The tool developed by TSC known as TPAD used to measure output of Kenyan teachers, is defective, skewed and open to manipulation and corruption.

If the global team would not have picked on Tabichi, then the good teacher, just like many other selfless teachers would have trudged on with the journey of teaching under an ungrateful employer, with the hope of the ultimate reward from God.

And that, my fellow Kenyans, is the true SPIRIT OF TEACHING PROFESSION IN KENYA.

The spirit of resilience and endurance, even in the face of poor pay, lack of promotions or difficulties just like the case of Teacher Tabichi.

*AmungaPeter