KUPPET Demands Immediate Permanent Hiring of 46,000 Teacher Interns
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) is urging the government to immediately convert the 46,000 teachers currently serving as interns to permanent employment.
Kuppet’s Secretary General, Akelo Misori, along with Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima, issued a strike warning on July 19, 2024, emphasizing the urgency of their demands.
Misori also called for the employment of 20,000 new intern teachers for junior secondary schools (JSS).
Funding Cuts and Education Challenges
Misori criticized the government’s decision to slash education funding, attributing it to the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024. He stressed that this reduction negatively impacts the education sector.
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He appeared before the National Assembly Education Committee, chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, where Teachers Service Commission (TSC) boss Nancy Macharia stated that intern teachers would have to wait longer for permanent positions due to budget cuts.
Kuppet’s Specific Demands
Kuppet’s demands include:
- Immediate conversion of 46,000 intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms.
- Full implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
- Immediate disbursement of overdue medical funds.
- Recruitment of 20,000 new teachers for JSS to accommodate the transition of 1.2 million learners to Grade 9 next year.
Government’s Response and Budget Constraints
Dr. Nancy Macharia explained that the pay increases for teachers outlined in the CBA are among the programs affected by the government’s austerity measures, resulting from a Sh10.28 billion cut in the TSC budget.
This budget reduction means the TSC cannot implement the second phase of the CBA, which was supposed to increase teachers’ basic salaries by up to 9.5 percent.
Misori expressed expectations that teachers would receive their confirmation letters and see their upgraded salaries reflected in their bank accounts soon.
He criticized the government for its casual attitude towards teachers’ welfare and condemned the Salaries and Remuneration Commission for enabling the government to undermine workers’ rights.
Misori insisted on the complete implementation of the CBA, including the August 2023 addendum.
Legal and Industrial Action
Dr. Macharia warned that failing to honor the CBA agreement could lead to court cases and strikes.
She informed the committee that the Treasury has been made aware of the budget cuts’ impact, with available funds only sufficient to cover salaries.
Misori insisted that despite providing minimal benefits, the CBA agreement must be honored as it went through the full legal process, including registration at the Employment and Labour Relations Court. He maintained that the agreed benefits are non-negotiable and must be honored.
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Table: Kuppet’s Demands and Government’s Response
| Kuppet’s Demands | Government’s Response |
|---|---|
| Convert 46,000 intern teachers to permanent positions | Budget cuts prevent immediate conversion |
| Full implementation of the 2021-2025 CBA | Pay increases affected by budget cuts |
| Immediate disbursement of overdue medical funds | Funds only sufficient to cover salaries |
| Recruit 20,000 new teachers for JSS | Budget constraints limit new recruitments |
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