Secondary Teachers Demand Allowance Increase for KCSE Exam Marking

Secondary Teachers Demand Allowance Increase for KCSE Exam Marking.

Secondary school teachers have renewed their demands for higher allowances during the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, set to start on October 22, 2024.

Represented by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), the teachers have requested an increase in their out-of-station allowances, asking for raises ranging from 750 to 900 percent.

Proposed New Allowances

Kuppet, through its Secretary-General Akello Misori, sent a letter to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba proposing the following new daily rates:

• Invigilators: Sh3,000 per day (up from Sh400, a 750% rise)
• Supervisors: Sh3,500 per day (up from Sh450, a 778% rise)
• Principals (who also act as exam centre managers): Sh4,500 per day (up from Sh500, a 900% increase)

Kuppet emphasized that the current payment structure is unsatisfactory and urged the Cabinet Secretary, who oversees the Kenya National Examination’s Council (Knec) budget, to ensure that teachers are compensated in line with the Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual for Public Service, which serves as the standard across government institutions.

Impact of Low Pay on Examinations

Misori noted that inadequate compensation for those involved in the exam cycle, from invigilation to supervision and marking, has led to low morale among teachers.

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He explained that this issue compromises the integrity of national exams and violates Kenya’s standards for fair labor practices.

Misori also mentioned that Kuppet members have expressed their determination to reject the current remuneration structure for the upcoming exams.

Previous Grievances and Strike Action

The demand for better pay is not new. It was a key issue during the August strike organized by Kuppet, which was later resolved through a consent agreement with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Misori argued that teachers are the only professionals without clear compensation guidelines for out-of-station work, leading to working conditions that he described as bordering on servitude.

He pointed out that unskilled casual workers, such as those hired for national holidays or the Kazi Mtaani program, receive better pay than professional teachers managing national exams.

Knec’s Financial Challenges

Knec has struggled in recent years to meet its financial obligations to exam officials due to budgetary constraints.

The government stopped charging school examination fees, leaving Knec reliant on allocations from the National Treasury.

However, these funds are insufficient since the allocation is provided as a lump sum rather than on a per-candidate basis, even though candidate numbers have been rising annually.

As a result, delays in paying teachers involved in the examination process have been frequent. Knec’s budget for this year stands at Sh5 billion, but it remains inadequate.

Upcoming Examination Timelines

Last year, Knec distributed exam materials from 576 centers across the country. For the 2024 KCSE exams, rehearsals will take place on October 18, with the exams running from October 22 to November 22.

Grade 6 learners will rehearse for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) on October 25, followed by the exams from October 28 to 31, 2024.

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Simultaneously, the Kenya Intermediate Learner, Education Assessment (KILEA) will be conducted for learners with special needs.

Changes in Supervision Roles

This year, all supervisors and invigilators for the KCSE exams will be secondary school teachers.

Previously, invigilators were drawn from primary schools, while supervisors came from secondary schools. The shift reflects a change in the administration of the national exams.

There will be no Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams this year, as the final cohort under the 8-4-4 system completed their primary education in 2023.

Secondary Teachers Demand Allowance Increase for KCSE Exam Marking

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