The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has demanded a start of negotiations with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) over their member’s pay rise.
Kuppet, in a national convention at The Eldoret National Polytechnic (TENP), resolved that the pay rise talks should start as early as January 2022.
In a media briefing during the meeting, Kuppet national Secretary-General Akello Misori said after President Uhuru Kenyatta recently said the country’s economy had started to recover following Covid-19 pandemic disruptions, it was time salaries of teachers were reviewed.
“We demand that salaries review freeze be unfrozen so that talks begin in 2022 for our members to get a pay rise,” said the Kuppet SG.
Misero named a recent move by the salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to approve hefty allowances to the members of the Judiciary, as another reason as to why talks must start in earnest for the teachers.
“Teachers are the worst paid public servants in Kenya today and we deserve better,” he said.
Kuppet delegates also resolved to back the government’s Teacher Education and Professional Development Program (TEPD), but on condition that costs will not be covered by individual teachers, but by the Ministry of Education.
The union also said the period under review for the program must be tenable for teachers.
TSC launched TEPD in September 2021 – a new module that will see public school teachers renew their professional certificates after every 5 years.
While the Kenya Union of Teachers (KNUT) had supported the program, Kuppet objected to it, and the latest resolution might indicate a change of heart.
But it remains to be seen whether the teachers’ employer – TSC, will heed Kuppet demand that it takes care of the costs, and not the teachers.
Under the TEPD, teachers are required to pay Ksh6,000 annually for a six-year professional training that will see them get professional teaching certificates aside from their already earned degrees/diplomas.
