Get ready for a shocking revelation as primary school teachers spill the beans on a sneaky trick found in the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) grading system. So, here’s the scoop: these clever teachers discovered a loophole that allowed inexperienced instructors to climb the promotion ladder and get those sweet pay raises. Sneaky, right?
According to their appeal to Parliament, the primary school teachers revealed that way back in 1996, the TSC Directorate of Personnel Management implemented a service plan. This plan required all teachers with A-level academic credentials to submit their names for promotions nationwide. Seems fair, right? Well, here’s where the trickery comes in.
The crafty teachers uncovered that some unqualified A-level instructors were trying to pull a fast one. How? By enrolling in a lightning-fast certification program at Kagumo and Bondo Teachers Training Colleges. In just two weeks, they attempted to deceive the authorities and make themselves eligible for promotions. Talk about a shortcut!
But here’s the kicker: the Ministry of Education actually went ahead and graded and promoted these untrained A-level teachers who attended the two-week program. Meanwhile, they conveniently left out other competent A-level instructors who hadn’t participated. Not cool, Ministry!
Naturally, the disgruntled instructors voiced their frustrations, demanding the promised pay hikes and promotions that seemed to have slipped through their fingers.
But there’s a ray of hope coming from our senate because action is being taken. The Senate’s Standing Committee on Education has received the teachers’ petition and has sixty days to respond and present a report. Let’s hope they address this issue swiftly and effectively.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, negotiations are underway for a revision of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the TSC and teacher unions. The goal? To secure those much-needed pay raises for our hardworking teachers.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) is pushing for a 42% increase, while the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) is asking for an even bigger boost of 60%. These unions are fighting tooth and nail to ensure that teachers receive the compensation they deserve.
Collins Oyuu, the Secretary General of KNUT, voiced his concerns about the TSC’s delay in addressing these pay raises. It’s clear that this prolonged procrastination has had a lasting impact on teachers. Time to step up, TSC!
Let’s hope that through these efforts and the power of unity, our dedicated teachers will finally receive the recognition and rewards they’ve been longing for. Stay tuned for more updates on this captivating saga!