Union, TSC strike deal on promotions

The government has finally reached a deal with a leading trade union to promote 7,500 teachers this year.

They have also resolved that the Teachers Service Commission recruit a fresh 5,000 staff as reflected in this year’s Budget estimates released last week.

Making the announcement yesterday in the company of senior officials of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi said the twin projects will cost Sh4.4 billion.

However, the numbers to be either recruited or promoted fall far below what Knut had demanded.

The union has been pushing for the promotion of 53,000 teachers and the recruitment of 20,000 new staff and even threatened to call a strike if the demands were not met by the government.

Prof Kaimenyi who spoke at the Knut House offices, Nairobi, said although the government was determined to raise the number of teachers in public schools, it could not extend its hand beyond the figures he announced given the financial constraints.

“We know the union had asked for the promotion of over 50, 000 teachers but due to financial constraints, we will only be able to promote 7,500, at a cost of Sh2.3 billion’’ he said.

A further Sh2.1 billion has been set aside for the recruitment of 5,000 new teachers, a move that is expected to ease the severe shortage of teachers across the country.

The latest data from a World Bank report puts the teacher pupil to ratio in public primary schools at 49 pupils per teacher.

Prof Kaimenyi said the figures will help to reduce the crippling shortage of teachers in schools which opened Monday.

It is estimated that schools need more than 40,000 teachers to plug the shortage, which has persisted since the free learning programme was introduced 11 years ago.

Prof Kaimenyi assured teachers that the government had already made arrangements with the TSC to begin the exercises after the budget reading next month. 

Present at the press conference were Knut officials Mudzo Nzili (chairman) and Wilson Sossion (secretary general).

Mr Sossion said Prof Kaimenyi’s visit was a show of  good faith and should dispel the notion that Knut and the government always operate an antagonistic relationship.

“We are committed to dialogue with the government to solve issues,” he said.

“We don’t enjoy strikes and we want to spare the country the inconvenience of one (strike) hence we have chosen to negotiate with the Cabinet Secretary.”

He called on all teachers to report for duty, saying that the union had not issued any strike notice and was not planning to do so.

Prof Kaimenyi also announced that the second phase of the commuter allowance for teachers will be rolled out, in respect to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement negotiated in January that helped forestall a teachers’ strike.

Phase one of the commuter allowances has already been paid out in full.

He also promised to increase the capitation availed to pupils and students in public schools by between 44 per cent and 50 per cent, a project that will be rolled out in the next three years.

This will ensure that children will not be charged any levy for basic education by 2016.

Currently, the government pays only Sh1,025 per child in primary schools per year and Sh10,625 per student in free day secondary school learning.

“Included in the increased capitation budget is Sh400 million to provide sanitary towels to school girls above the age of 10,” he said, adding that the increased allotment will also cater for school lunches and exam charges.

This will come as a huge relief to parents who have been forced to pay levies in form of electricity and exam fees, even after the introduction of the free schooling.

In the interest of national cohesion, Prof Kaimenyi announced plans to launch a Kenya Future Leaders Programme that will see majority of university graduates are recruited away from their home counties.

Once implemented, Prof Kaimenyi said, the programme will enable the creation of over 30,000 jobs annually, as well as creating an environment that will enable fresh graduates to interact with potential employers.

Under the programme, the government plans to train volunteers who will work closely with teachers to improve the standards of learning in primary schools, focusing mainly on reading and mathematical skills.

This comes as a response to reports that have shown that the reading and mathematical ability of pupils is far below par.