By Mercy Buyanzi-Trans Nzoia County
Officials of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Trans Nzoia County have threatened to disrupt learning over delayed payment of Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) allowances.
Led by Trans Nzoia KUPPET Executive Secretary Dan Kutai, the teachers held demonstrations in Kitale town and accused the government and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of failing to address teachers’ concerns.
The teachers marched through the town carrying placards and singing before presenting their complaints to Deputy TSC Director Vincent Mamai at the county offices.
Kutai warned that teachers would take tougher action if the government failed to act.
“We are going to take the most firm step that has never been taken before. We want the government to listen to us,” he said.
The union said many teachers who worked as examiners, invigilators and supervisors during last year’s national examinations have not been paid.
“If the government is not going to pay the examiners, supervisors and invigilators, we are going to paralyse learning completely,” Kutai said.
KUPPET also demanded permanent employment for 44,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers.
The officials said the Sh17,000 paid to JSS interns was too little compared to the work they do in schools.
“It beats logic that the government is paying JSS interns Sh17,000 and expects quality education to be achieved,” Kutai said.
The union also asked the government to remove the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), saying many teachers had stayed in the same job groups for years without promotion.
KUPPET further called for JSS teachers to operate independently instead of being placed under primary school management, saying this was affecting the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
