KUPPET 2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: THIS IS WHAT WAS DISCUSSED DURING THIS YEAR’S KUPPET ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: POOR LIVING CONDITIONS AND LOW PAY FOR KCSE EXAMINERS, 70% SALARY INCREMENT FOR TEACHERS AND MASSIVE DELOCALIZATION OF TEACHERS
KUPPET’S TOUGH TALK ON TEACHER SALARIES AND KNEC WORKING CONDITIONS
This year’s Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers Annual General Meeting was centred on the Kenyan teacher’s general welfare ranging from administration of national KCSE exams to massive delocalization of teachers and administrators.
EXTERNAL LINKS WITH RELATED CONTENT
KUPPET’s Annual General Meeting was held yesterday at Kenyatta University, Kitui Campus. The high- level meeting brought together 1, 000 delegates and some invited teachers.
KNEC’S POOR WORKING CONDITIONS FOR KCSE EXAMINERS
Some of the issues that the unionists discussed include poor living conditions and low KNEC payment rates for 2019 KNEC KCSE examiners.
Speaking to The Saturday Standard, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori and National Chair Omboko Milemba said the AGM will call for a complete change in the way national exams are administered with teachers’ welfare being the central focus.
Misori further added that KUPPET has complained about the plight of teachers during the administration and marking of national exams but the government has not given the matter enough weight.
According to Misori, KCSE examiners are forced to sleep in “funny” dormitories, queue for hours on end to get a shower and use pathetic toilets.
Some of the KNEC examiners are also obliged to share beds or sleep on the floor due to inadequate beds.
Despite these harsh conditions that examiners are subjected to, they continue to get low pay for the indispensable role they play.
KUPPET thus challenged KNEC to broaden reforms to cover the entire national exam management system.
Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
Besides KNEC’s poor working conditions and poor payment rates for KCSE examiners, the AGM also discussed the upcoming full roll-out of the current 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA and the commencement of talks for the next CBA which will be characterized by a 70 per cent salary increment for teachers.
On salary increment, KUPPET has already suggested a 30-70 per cent salary increment and harmonization of allowances for all teachers for the next CBA (2021-2025).
QUALITY KCSE EXAM MARKING
KUPPET’s national chair Mr Milemba, on the other hand, faulted the Kenya National Examinations Council, KNEC for hiring cheap labour for this year’s marking exercise to beat the “deadline.”
He said that quality marking should be separated from “artificial” timelines since KCSE marking is not a marathon race. Quality is very important.
TSC DELOCALIZATION
The union also discussed the looming massive transfers of primary school headteachers and principals.
KUPPET said that teacher’s age, marital status and health conditions should be considered before being delocalized.
According to Misori, the government should not separate families or separate terminally ill teachers from their primary care-givers.
KUPPET ON TSC INTERNS
Misori also said that much as the union acknowledges the fact that the government is straining financially, they are opposing the employment of TSC interns.
Instead, KUPPET opts for the employment of TSC teachers on permanent terms.
