Sossion: Teachers will not sign new pact or collect exam papers

Knut secretary general Wilson Sossion speaks with TSC chairperson Dr Lydia Nzomo and TSC CEO Nancy Macharia on August 10, 2016 at the Sheikh Zayed hall where primary head teachers have converged for an annual conference. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Demand for salary increment was made to ICT CS Joe Mucheru and Education PS Belio Kipsang.
  • Mr Sossion said Knut supported the ongoing curriculum reforms, but cautioned that it should not be hurried through.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers will not sign the second collective bargaining agreement due in October without a pay rise for all teachers.

Knut Secretary-General Wilson Sossion on Wednesday led more than 10,000 primary school headteachers in making the demand to Information and Communication Technology Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru and Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang.

Addressing the participants at the Kenya Primary Schools Head Teachers Association (Kepsha) 12th annual conference at Sheikh Zayed Children’s Centre, Mombasa, Mr Sossion also accused the government of failing to disburse money to schools on time.

“The ongoing negotiations for the 2017-2022 period set to be concluded in October must have a component of bigger teachers’ salary increase,” said Mr Sossion. “It must also contain increased salaries for teachers who have qualified with a first degree, master’s and PhD degrees, which must also be backdated to the time the teacher graduated from university.

“If this is not done, we will not sign it.”

Mr Sossion warned that teachers would go to any length to protect their rights.

He said: “We are ready and will co-operate with the government in whatever comes up aimed at providing quality education for our children. But we will protect our rights, which are the rights of every human being contained in the UN Charter.”

He said that without the capitation cash, the running of schools becomes a major challenge.

“The capitation fund is itself inadequate and yet it is being delayed. Now, who is to blame?” he asked, and the teachers answered: “The government!”

Mr Sossion said Knut supported the ongoing curriculum reforms, but cautioned that it should not be hurried through.

He said: “The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) must be well-prepared for the new curriculum...Don’t hurry the reforms as you did with the 8-4-4 system, which has given us nightmares for years.”

He also accused the government of failure to address teacher shortages in primary and secondary schools, saying the country risked failing to achieve the 2030 UN agenda of universal education.

“Tanzania employs 26,000 teachers per year, Nigeria employs 500,000 teachers annually. Why can’t Kenya employ just 85,000?” he asked.

The trade unionist also said head teachers would not go for examination papers from collection centres and supervise them as required by the new Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) rule.

“It’s unlawful because the Knec Act clearly stipulates that it is its work to do that. It has not been amended and we cannot work contrary to the law,” he insisted.

Reported by Daniel Nyassy, Rebecca Okwany and Mishi Gongo.