KUPPET Criticizes Delays in Payroll Adjustments as Teachers’ Protest Persists
Moses Nthurima, Deputy Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), expressed frustration over the delayed payment of agreed-upon funds. Last year, KUPPET and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) had an agreement to disburse the funds in two phases.
However, the TSC did not factor in the money until after KUPPET’s recent strike action began. Nthurima criticized this delay, describing it as “mischievous,” suggesting that the TSC’s timing was an attempt to delay the impact of the strike.
Nthurima pointed out that despite the TSC’s plan to factor in the funds after calling the strike, there was no written confirmation of this commitment.
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He asserts that both parties must adhere to an agreement, and the decision to keep the strike active resulted from the lack of immediate written assurance.
Ongoing Issues and Conditions for Ending the Strike
KUPPET’s concerns extend beyond the delayed payroll. Nthurima emphasized that the TSC still needs to address numerous issues. Despite the TSC’s commitment to resolving some of the union’s six demands, they have only addressed one.
Nthurima underscored that the current working conditions for teachers are challenging, and KUPPET will not terminate the strike until they have satisfactorily resolved all agreed-upon issues.
Nthurima expressed concern over the global trend of privatizing education, which he sees as a threat to the teaching profession. He argued that the casual employment of intern teachers is part of this broader trend, and if left unchecked, it could lead to the decline of Kenya’s teaching profession.
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He warned that the government’s reliance on cheap labor through intern employment could undermine the quality of education, especially for children in public schools, leading to a class divide between those who can afford private education and those who cannot.
Moses Nthurima, the Deputy Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), emphasized the importance of unity between KUPPET and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) in confronting the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
KUPPET Criticizes Delays in Payroll Adjustments as Teachers’ Protest Persists