There is always some light at the end of every tunnel no matter how long the passage may seem.
For a very long time now Kenyan teachers have been forced to yield to pressure emanating from their employer the Teachers Service Commission during pay rise tussles between the union and the commission.
However, details have emerged about how the ingenious Kenya National Union of Teachers is planning to make the lives of Kenyan teachers better!
The details were revealed ahead of the World Teachers’ Day held on Saturday through a confidential document prepared by KNUT’s technical team.
The document partly reveals KNUT’s plans to push for higher pay and more allowances to shield Kenyan teachers from the intolerable economic conditions.
Encouraged by the near successful implementation of the CBA, the union now seeks to triple teachers’ salaries.
This is among the proposals that will be presented to the TSC for further deliberation.
NEW SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES FOR TEACHERS
KNUT proposes to have the monthly basic salary of the lowest-paid teacher that is Grade B5 to be raised to a maximum of sh 87, 024 from the current Sh 21,756 and that of the highest-paid teacher that is Grade D5 to increase from the current Sh 131, 380 to a maximum of sh 394, 140.
In an internal document issued by the KNUT’s National Executive Council, new allowances and more house allowance have been proposed.
KNUT’S INTERNAL WARS
Internal sources have hinted that the ongoing leadership tussles may delay the grand plans that the union has for teachers.
The current plan is part of the next phase of the implementation of the CBA between the year 2021-2023.
The KNUT secretary-general Mr Wilson Sossion on Friday confirmed that the proposals had already been approved by the National Advisory Council of the union and the national steering committee.
He further added that they are ready to submit the document any time.
KUPPET’S 30-70 % PAY RISE
KNUT’S rival union KUPPET, on the other hand, has already scheduled a meeting with the TSC and tabled its proposed 30-70 % salary increment.
KUPPET further wants house allowances to be harmonized across all the regions.
This new development is welcome given that there are more than 315 000 teachers who are currently under the TSC payroll.
The new proposal will also put a glimmer of hope in young teachers and education graduates for they are likely to view the teaching profession from a different perspective.
WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY
The TSC on Saturday joined student teachers at Kenyatta University in a walk to mark the World Teachers’ Day.
The commission also took time to sensitize teacher trainees on what is expected of them once they join the profession.
KNUT secretary general, Sossion also said that young teachers need to be integrated into the teaching profession to sharpen their teaching skills early enough.
This is because if TSC absorbs young teachers, it will be assured of quality staff and quality education.
KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori, on the other hand, requested the government to set aside adequate money to recruit and employ more teachers.
