SNE Teachers Push TSC to Act on Ruto’s Additional Job Grade Directive.
Special Needs Education (SNE) teachers in Eldoret have urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to implement a presidential directive granting SNE teachers one additional job grade.
The teachers said the directive was issued in September 2025 during a meeting between teachers’ representatives and President William Ruto at State House. They said the additional grade had not been implemented despite the directive and previous recommendations concerning the grading of SNE teachers.
Speaking in Eldoret, SNE teacher Peter Mutai said the directive had yet to be implemented.
“The grade has not been implemented to date, despite the recognition of the remarkable work we do,” Mutai said.
Mutai commended President William Ruto for recognising the work undertaken by SNE teachers and called on the Teachers Service Commission to implement the directive.
Another SNE teacher, Scholastica Korir, called on the President to exert further pressure on the Teachers Service Commission to implement the directive.
“We have been patient enough, and we now feel that action should be taken,” Korir said.
2017 Job Evaluation Recommendations
The teachers also cited a 2017 job evaluation conducted by the Teachers Service Commission and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), which they said recommended two additional job groups for SNE teachers.
SNE teacher Ruth Njagi said the recommendations arising from the job evaluation had not been implemented.
“We, as SNE teachers, went to Parliament in 2023 to petition on the same issue, but nothing has changed,” Njagi said.
The teachers said the implementation of an additional job grade remained an outstanding matter despite the presidential directive and the earlier job evaluation recommendations.
Concerns Over Capitation Delays
The SNE teachers also raised concerns over delays in the disbursement of capitation funds to SNE units.
They said delays in receiving the funds had disrupted learning activities and co-curricular programmes in SNE institutions.
The teachers called for the timely disbursement of capitation funds to ensure that SNE units have the resources required to support learners and conduct planned activities.
Request for Intervention by Wilson Sossion
SNE teacher Sarah Keino appealed to Commissioner Wilson Sossion to assist in raising the concerns of SNE teachers with the Teachers Service Commission.
Keino commended Sossion for his previous involvement in matters affecting teachers during his tenure as secretary-general of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT).
“I want to thank Wilson Sossion for the remarkable work he did for us when he was the secretary-general of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), and we ask him to help us push this matter,” Keino said.
SNE Teachers Cite Additional Responsibilities
The teachers said Special Needs Education involves intensive attention, monitoring and care of learners.
They said SNE teachers may be required to undertake additional responsibilities, including feeding learners, administering medication and changing learners’ clothes.
According to the teachers, the responsibilities associated with SNE teaching are not adequately reflected in their current remuneration.
“The pay does not align with the work, and we would really appreciate the increment. The TSC should care for our needs too, just as we care for these learners,” Keino said.
Call for Risk Allowance
The teachers also called for the introduction of a risk allowance for SNE teachers, citing safety challenges associated with working with older learners.
SNE teacher Sirima Mary said SNE schools do not have an age limit, resulting in some institutions having learners aged above 35 years and, in some cases, up to 45 years.
She said teachers working with older learners could face physical safety risks because of the unpredictable nature of some incidents involving learners.
“The SNE School does not have an age limit, and you find learners aged up to even 45 who are strong enough to push or beat teachers. We need a risk allowance because of the unpredictable harm that can be caused by these learners,” Sirima said.
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The teachers maintained that the proposed additional job grade, improved remuneration and risk allowance should be considered alongside the responsibilities associated with Special Needs Education.
They also called for action on the earlier job evaluation recommendations, the presidential directive issued in September 2025 and the concerns surrounding delays in capitation funding for SNE units.
SNE Teachers Push TSC to Act on Ruto’s Additional Job Grade Directive.
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