Teacher promotions dispute set for resolution
What you need to know:
- The Kenya National Union of Teachers has demanded that those with higher academic credentials be promoted.
- Ms Macharia has said the commission recognizes higher qualifications and that it is has developed career progression guidelines.
The dispute over whether teachers should be promoted on the basis of their academic qualifications has been taken to the ministry of Labour.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers, which has demanded that those with higher academic credentials be promoted, has been invited to the ministry tomorrow to explain it’s stand.
It will be joined by the Teachers Service Commission, which holds that promotions should be determined by the quality of work and not academic papers.
A March 13 letter by labour official Hellen Maneno says the meeting will take place at the NSSF building from 10am.
“In an endeavour to have the matter resolved amicably you are invited for the meeting. Kindly submit your respective proposals and memorandums to me before then,” Ms Maneno said.
TRANSFER
During the meeting, the controversial delocalization of teachers policy, which has sparked massive transfers across the country and which the unions have opposed, terming it discriminatory and disruptive, will also be discussed.
Also on the agenda will be the performance contracting of head teachers and performance appraisals.
Knut has been pushing for the promotion of teachers who have attained higher qualifications, saying that since 2014, more than 30,000 teachers have not been promoted.
PROMOTIONS
A proposal by the union says there are terms and conditions of service negotiated between it and the TSC, which should be applied indiscriminately.
It adds that teachers nearing retirement have been systematically left out of promotions despite having met the required qualifications.
“Some teachers are about to exit service after serving on the same grade for over 15 years despite excelling in their career and having clean records in service delivery,” Knut says.
TSC chief executive Nancy Macharia has stated that the commission recognizes higher qualifications and that it is has developed career progression guidelines, which recognises various qualifications depending on positions.
She says higher qualifications will count in career progression depending on the vacancies and the particular qualifications needed.
Knut has opposed appraisals, saying teachers are spending more time filling forms as opposed to teaching.
