KUSNET Wants TSC to Implement 2018 CBA on Teachers Promotion
The Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) has urged the Teacher Service Commission (TSC) to swiftly and fully implement the 2018 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
According to the union’s Secretary General, James Torome, while certain aspects of the agreement have been executed, many special teachers remain stuck in the same job groups.
Special needs education teachers secured promotions and the employment of additional teachers through the 2018 CBA to address the sector’s acute shortage.
“We asking the teacher Service Commission to move with speed and review the career progression for the special needs education teachers correct which have never been implemented since 2018,” Torome said.
James Torome emphasized the need for TSC to review career progression for special needs education teachers, a provision that has not been implemented since 2018.
He highlighted the disparity between teachers handling special needs learners and those teaching regular learners, noting that the latter often receive higher administrative positions despite having similar qualifications, such as diplomas and degree certificates.
“You can see even from our counterpart, those are teachers handling regular learners from our mainstream, those who are promoted to administrative positions were taken very higher grades than the teachers handling Learners in special school and most of them have diploma and degree certificates”
Handling learners in special schools, according to the union, is highly challenging and demands well-motivated and adequately remunerated teachers to deliver effective services.
The union criticized the ongoing stagnation of its members in the same job groups despite having similar qualifications as their counterparts in regular schools.
The union did commend the TSC for employing 6,000 new teachers, which they believe will significantly alleviate the severe teacher shortage in the sector.
“Handling Learners in special school is not a walk in the Park. It’s a very challenging activity that requires that teachers handling these Learners are well motivated and remunerated in order to deliver their services very effectively.”
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KUSNET also appreciated the expansion of the special allowance bracket, which now includes those using pairs of crutches, allowing them to earn a guidance allowance of 20,000. This allowance had not been available since their employment by the TSC.
Key points from the KUSNET statements:
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| CBA Implementation | 2018 agreement, not fully implemented |
| Career Progression | Stagnation in job groups, need for review |
| Employment of Teachers | 6,000 new teachers employed |
| Special Allowance | Expanded to include those using crutches, allowance of 20,000 |
James Tome also cautioned teachers not to engage in extreme measures to qualify for the allowance, referring to those using a walking aid with both hands. These remarks were made during a consultative meeting held in Inigga County.
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