The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has revealed tactics employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) as thousands of qualified teachers were left out in the 2023/2024 promotion.
While appearing before the Public Petitions Committee, KUPPET Secretary general Akelo Misori stated that TSC has resulted to adopting cheap employment tactics such as employing Principals on acting capacity for years, due to insufficiency of funds.
KUPPET termed this as abuse of labour rights and want the committee to resolve the employment of teachers in acting administrative positions where they draw no compensation.
Thousands of qualified teachers left bypassed for promotion by TSC
The secretary general also called for total abolishment of policies on appointment and promotion of teachers after thousands of qualified teachers were left out in the 2023/2024 promotion by TSC.
“There is a serious crisis of career stagnation in the teaching service, revealed in the high number of teachers who have not earned any promotion for more than five years,” said Akelo Misori.
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KUPPET stated that the recent promotion by TSC, that saw 130,000 left out of the 20223/2024 promotion despite exceeding qualifications, affirms the stagnation crisis that has befallen teachers.
The union attributes the crisis to the defunct policies on promotion of teachers, specifically Code of Regulations (CORT), Guidelines on Appointment and Deployment of Institutional Administrators, and Career Progression Guidelines under the 2016-2021 and 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
KUPPET asks for increased funding in the sector
The union called for the strengthening of staff establishment records per school, through increased funding to the Quality Assurance Directorate of the Ministry of Education.
Also Read: KUPPET Takes Stand on Teachers Strike Hours to Schools Reopening
It also asked for teachers’ career progression from middle-level to senior roles not to be pegged on administrative positioning as is currently being done in academic and research institutions.
KUPPET Secretary General informed the Committee that they have had three past sittings with the TSC to no fruition, which has in turn led to the various strikes.
In response, the committee Vice-Chair Hon. Janet Sitienei in her closing remarks promised to invite the TSC so as to get to the bottom of the matter.
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