KUPPET Demands TSC Action on Teacher Stagnation and Political Interference in Hiring.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Kisumu Chapter has raised alarms over the prolonged stagnation of teachers in the same job group.
The Kisumu Executive Secretary, Zablon Awange, pointed out that Kisumu and Luo Nyanza regions have a significant number of teachers who have been stuck in the now-defunct Job Group N, later reassigned to D1.
He emphasized that this historical injustice, which dates back to 2006 when teachers were initially assigned to Job Group N, must be rectified.
Awange criticized the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for its failure to address the promotion issue adequately.
He stated that the TSC’s attempts to ignore the matter have been unsuccessful and that KUPPET is closely monitoring the situation to ensure affected teachers receive the justice they deserve.
Villagers Attack Teachers Over KCSE Results
Awange also condemned the actions of villagers who have recently attacked teachers, blaming them for poor Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) performance.
An incident at Oginga Odinga Tamu Secondary School in Muhoroni, where villagers targeted teachers for their students’ disappointing results, was particularly troubling.
Awange called for the arrest of these villagers, emphasizing that it was the students, not the teachers, who were responsible for the exam outcomes.
He further urged the TSC to withdraw teachers from areas where parents pose threats to school staff due to exam results and security concerns.
The KUPPET Executive Secretary demanded that authorities thoroughly investigate the attacks and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
Political Interference in Teacher Appointments
Awange also expressed dismay over Members of Parliament (MPs) who, he claimed, are using the appointment process as a political tool. He stressed that the constitutional role of the TSC should be protected by the new CEO and commissioners to avoid undue political influence.
While KUPPET supports the ongoing promotional interviews, as outlined in their grievances from last year’s industrial action, Awange raised concerns about a recent decision to reduce the minimum service length required for promotion to just six months.
In a related issue, Naivasha MP Jane Kihara raised concerns about the recruitment of 20,000 teachers by the TSC.
She claimed that the recruitment process is being manipulated to favor pro-government MPs, calling for a suspension of the exercise and an investigation into the alleged bias.
Kihara warned that hundreds of teachers who meet the academic and professional standards may be excluded from the recruitment, undermining the fairness of the process.
Education Sector in Crisis
Speaking at Naivasha Day Secondary School after handing over a bus to the school, Kihara noted that the education sector is facing serious challenges.
These include corruption, lack of funding, and the failure to release capitation funds, which has left many schools unable to operate effectively.
Read Also: KUPPET Demands Full Disclosure from KNEC on 840 KCSE Results Cancellations
Kihara also highlighted the issue of Junior Secondary School (JSS) classrooms, with many schools missing out on the necessary infrastructure for Grade 9 learners.
Naivasha Day Secondary School Principal, Amos Gamba, shared that the student population at the school had surged from 800 to 1,500 in just five years.
He expressed satisfaction with the school’s improving academic performance and stated that the new bus would serve as an additional motivator for the students.
KUPPET Demands TSC Action on Teacher Stagnation and Political Interference in Hiring.
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