Sossion team retains seats, opposes appraisals

Top leadership of the teachers’ union retained their positions unopposed in elections held Friday at Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi.

Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Wilson Sossion, chairman Mudzo Nzili and treasurer John Matiang'i were given a fresh five-year mandate by the more than 2,000 delegates.

The entire national steering committee made up of five other members was also re-elected unopposed.

The National Executive Council is the union’s top decision making organ and has about 30 members.

The leadership of the union have vowed to continue with their push for signing of a Collective Bargaining Agreement and stop the ongoing performance appraisal for teachers.

Mr Sossion said the government must be ready to invest in teachers so that public learning can deliver quality education and have motivated teaches.

“Quality education cannot be attained through underpaid, demotivated and frustrated teachers,” said the secretary-general.

At the same time, the union says that the appraisal tool will hurt education.

In a memorandum to Ms Hellen Opiyo, who serves as a conciliator to the two bodies, Knut says the focus on paper work as a tool of measure will led to the abandonment of the actual classroom teaching.

It said that teachers will resort to record maintenance to achieve career growth.