Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) in Trans Nzoia has raised concern over the Ministry of Education directive to national schools to pay fees through the e-Citizen platform.

Kuppet Trans Nzoia chairperson Eliud Wafula urged the ministry to reconsider the decision and call for dialogue with stakeholders to find alternative solutions.

Wafula said the ministry would have considered implementing the programme in universities and technical institutes which handle huge sums of money.

He argued that teachers already have heavy workload and the responsibility of managing online fee payments will overburden them and take them away from their core duty of teaching.

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“It’s not proper for the principal to be reduced to only handling the students and not the resources,” said Wafula.

He said most schools in rural areas do not have reliable internet and it will be difficult for parents and guardians to make online payments which could disenfranchise many students.

“This directive has been issued without proper consultation with stakeholders, particularly school administrators and teachers. It disregards the unique realities of different schools and could create unnecessary logistical hurdles that hinder smooth learning operations,” stated Wafula.

Wafula noted that the e-Citizen platform has a history of technical glitches and downtime. “What happens if parents are unable to make payments due to such issues? Will students be denied access to education?” He posed.

The Kuppet official said parents and guardians should be given various payment options, including mobile money, cash deposits at designated locations, and online payments for those with access.

“Not everyone, especially older parents or those from marginalized communities, is comfortable with digital transactions. The government needs to address the digital literacy gap before implementing such a sweeping mandate,” he said.

“Concerted efforts are needed to bridge the digital divide by expanding internet access and promoting digital literacy, especially in rural areas,” he added.

Wafula urged the government to invest in training teachers and school administrators on how to use the e-Citizen platform.

The members of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) want a review of the current union’s constitution to align with the Constitution of Kenya.

This will give all members the right to participate in the affairs of the union and cater for gender parity and representation of teachers living with disabilities at the national level.

Speaking at a city hotel in Nairobi, regional leaders led by Executive Secretary, Nairobi Moses Mbora, reiterated that this will ensure all counties will have equal representation to the national delegates conference in proportion to the number of teachers in their branches.

The teacher’s leaders, drawn from the regions of Coast, Kiambu, Kajiado, Nairobi, and Machakos, observed that this will give them a bigger role in the management and decision-making processes, as well as ensure more union members participate in electing national leaders.

‘‘The two fundamental principles that have animated the union’s membership include the expansion of elective positions from 10 to a higher number and the adoption of proportional representation (Pro Rata),’’ said Mbora.

However, KUPPET has registered branches all over Kenya, with the membership growing to more than 120,000, with the union’s character, including its leadership, not catering adequately for the increased membership.

‘‘This unprecedented growth has revealed many weaknesses of the existing Constitution, which are being addressed through the review. Decision-making has remained in the hands of just 480 delegates, like it was in 2010, with none of the union’s national executive leaders coming from the new branches,’’ he stated.

Executive Secretary, KUPPET Mombasa Branch, Lynett Kamadi, said the system will give a voice to all teachers, including those from populous and marginalized groups, and bring gender parity into play.

She said women’s representation has remained unacceptably low, with only one woman elected to national office. teachers living with disabilities have also not been properly represented.

‘‘For many years, the union has taken measures to recruit, develop, and nurture leadership talent from among women, the youth, teachers living with disabilities, and marginalised groups, as well as Junior Secondary teachers,’’ she said, adding that such measures have included the creation of an exclusive trustee position for the Coast and ASAL regions and the selection of delegates from the regions to important union committees.

Reacting to statements made by some KUPPET leaders in Machakos recently, Moses Thogo Executive Secretary Kiambu said the review of the constitution was not earmarked to extend office tenure to old officials who want to cling to power after their retirement age.

‘We have noted with deep concern wild allegations by some unscrupulous delegates over the union’s on-going constitutional reforms. Speaking in Machakos two days ago, the delegates uttered blatant falsehoods concerning the constitutional review process,’’ he said.

He condemned the latter for assuming that the process was crafted from last year’s Annual Delegates Conference to extend the retirement period of the current officials.

Secondary schools could be headed for financial crises as they open doors to 1.4 million learners joining Form One.

Some 1.2 million learners will also join Junior Secondary School (JSS) as they transit from primary school under the Competency-Based Curriculum.

It has been established that schools are yet to receive the capitation funds, a week after reopening.

A section of principals have indicated that they had not received the funds by close of business on Friday despite reassurance from the ministry when schools reopened.

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“We want to assure our schools that the funds have been released. It is a process because of systems, the funds will be in the accounts by Wednesday or Friday latest,” PS Bellio Kipsang said last Monday during the release of KCSE results at Moi Girls School, Eldoret.

The ministry in early January had indicated that Sh31 billion had been set aside for capitation to schools.

Out of the total funds, Sh4.74 billion will go towards Free Primary Education with Sh7.60 billion being capitation for JSSs for term one.

Some Sh2.80 billion is meant for school examination and invigilation fees while Sh16.20 has been factored in for Free Day Secondary School.

Attempt to reach the new Kenya Secondary School Heads Association leadership for a comment on the delay was futile as the chairman did not respond to calls.

The delay in capitation disbursement could now cause anxiety and operational crisis with Form One admission is expected to push the population of learners in secondary school to about 3.8 million.

Parents also want the ministry to make a pronouncement on the issue of extra levies.

National Parents Association chair Silas Obuhatsa urged the Teachers Service Commission to take action against schools that violate fees guidelines.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers Secretary General Akello Misori called on the government to deploy extra teachers to schools ahead of the admission.

Misori noted that the government had committed to employ 116,000 teachers but the target is still far off.

A total of 46,000 intern teachers will have to wait a little bit longer before their employment terms are converted to permanent and pensionable after their employer Teachers Service Commission (TSC) affirmed that their term of employment will automatically change after two years.

Appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly last week, the Commission’s Director of Staffing Antonina Lentoijoni stated that the interns will have to wait for another one year before the government confirms them to permanent and pensionable.

“There are two sets of interns. There are those who started on February 1,and those who began working on September 1.The ones we are talking about sending letters of extension of contract for another one year in December are for those in February,”Lentoijoni said.

The Commission appeared before the lawmakers during the hearing of the 2023/2024 supplementary budget by the Committee, which was submitted in the National Assembly by the Chairperson of Budget and Appropriation Committee Ndindi Nyoro on October 26,2023.

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Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has however dismissed their employer’s position stating that TSC must honour its earlier commitment and absorb the teachers to permanent and pensionable immediately their first year term ends.

The Union Secretary General Akelo Misori said the proposal on teachers currently serving on internship contracts in primary and Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) will demoralise them.

“Whereas the teachers’ employment contract clearly stipulates that  they were to serve as interns for only one year,the TSC has not taken the necessary steps to employ them on a permanent basis from January 2024 when their current contract expires,” Misori said.

He argued that teachers have exhibited their patriotism to the nation by going out of their way to offer services to learners despite the hard-working environment.

In the supplementary budget the Ministry of Education will receive a third of the Ksh187.3 billion mini-budget, where education sector will receive Ksh62.1 billion.

In the proposed additional appropriations, the State Department for Higher Education and Research will receive an additional 29.3 billion while TSC is scheduled for an increased allocation of Ksh19.7 billion for teachers’ resource management, signaling the recruitment of tutors to alleviate a biting shortage, which has been exacerbated by the roll-out of the competency-based curriculum.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has locked horns with the teacher’s employer over terms of tutors serving on contract.

The union has faulted recent remarks by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) that the teachers presently on contract will serve for another one year before their terms of service are reviewed.

TSC told MPs last week intern teachers will have to wait for another one year before the government confirms them to permanent and pensionable.

TSC Director of Teachers Staffing Antonina Lentoijoni said that the 46,000 teachers will have their terms of employment automatically changed to permanent and pensionable (PNP) after two years of service.

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“There are two sets of interns. There are those who started on February 1, and those who began working on September 1. The ones we are talking about sending letters of extension of contract for another one year in December are for those in February,” Lentoijoni said.

She spoke when TSC officials appeared before the National Assembly Education Committee chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly.

However, Kuppet yesterday said the TSC must honour its earlier commitment and absorb the teachers to permanent and pensionable immediately their first year term ends.

Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori said the proposal on teachers currently serving on internship contracts in primary and Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) will demoralise them.

“Whereas the teachers employment contract clearly stipulates that they were to serve as interns for only one year, the TSC has not taken the necessary steps to employ them on a permanent basis from January 2024 when their current contract expires,” Misori said.

He argued that teachers have exhibited their patriotism to the nation by going out of their way to offer services to learners despite the hard-working environment.

“Service on internship is nothing short of a patriotic act. These teachers who have persevered the challenges of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) transition and learnt valuable lessons from the process should be immediately confirmed to permanent and pensionable so that they can help stabilize their institutions in the new year as JSS gets to the second year of Grade Eight,” Misori said.

The union observed that even with the meagre salary they get, the teachers are subjected to taxes and statutory deductions like their counterparts in the service.

“The teachers have persevered in an extremely demoralizing condition of service. They are paid just half of their deserved salary. They enjoy medical insurance and do not contribute to the same pension scheme for teachers. Ironically, they are taxed at the same level as other teachers of their grade, including mandatory housing levy and NSSF contribution,” Kuppet Secretary-General said.

Misori noted that the situation is even worse for JSS teachers who have been placed to work under primary school heads.

“In some schools, the JSS teachers have been forced to purchase their own teaching aid including textbooks, pens, writing pads, and chalks since primary schools where they work do not provide these basic necessities in the required quantities,” he said.

Teachers posted in Northern Kenya now want the government to issue them with guns to protect themselves due to the region’s high insecurity level.

Kenya Union of Post Primary School Teachers National Secretary Secondary Edward Obwocha said the teachers need to be given paramilitary training as well.

Obwocha spoke during the Annual General Assembly held by the KUPPET Isiolo branch on Wednesday.

“Teachers cannot protect themselves using chalk. Let them be given guns. Do you agree with me or we continue using chalk? Let us be given military training and guns,” Obwocha said.

Obwocha noted that the Teacher’s Service Commission has interdicted teachers simply because they were trying to run away from the insecurity of the region.

“I am a victim sir, and when those guns come I would like to be trained,” a lady’s voice shouted from the audience.

Obwocha said TSC must consider the lives of the teachers first instead of just interdicting them.

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“That is being inhumane. And that is why we are saying that the Teacher’s Service Commission must be more humane, more friendly, and stop being a teacher’s suffering centre,” he said.

Obwocha said life must be given priority because it comes first before teaching even happens.

The teachers present at the annual General Assembly in Isiolo agreed there is a need for paramilitary training and guns.

The National Assembly Education Committee has also been calling on TSC to address the concerns of the teachers posted in Northern Kenya.

The Chairperson of the Committee Julius Melly urged TSC to first reinstate the interdicted teachers from Northern Kenya.

The teachers were interdicted on grounds that they absconded their duties when they moved to hold protests at TSC headquarters in Nairobi over insecurity in the north.

Melly said TSC failed to listen to teachers’ concerns adding that no teacher should teach under threat.

The MP spoke on October 15 during a function in Tinderet Constituency, Nandi County.

“You cannot teach when your life is under threat. You cannot do a lesson plan. You cannot attend to a child when there is somebody threatening your life,” the Tinderet MP said.

“You can’t work, you can’t even be an administrator in school because every other time you sit trying to work, somebody is after your life.”

He challenged the commissioners at TSC, for they are also teachers, to try working in Northern Eastern Kenya for them to also have a first-hand experience of what it is like to be posted in Mandera.

“I want to ask the commissioners who interdicted the teachers, let them try and have one or two weeks of working as teachers. I want them to go to Mandera for two or three weeks, stay in the same stations, live in police cells and also work under difficult circumstances as the teachers,” Melly said.

The interdictions took effect from September 22, 2023.

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers has opposed some recommendations in the Presidential Working Party on education reforms.

They say these proposals could curtail the responsibilities of the Teachers Service Commission and impede the employment rights of educators.

Speaking in Nandi South during the union’s Annual General Meeting, Kuppet national chairman Omboko Milemba and Secretary General Akelo Misori said certain proposals should be removed.

Milemba said TSC has played a crucial role in employment and supervision within the education sector, and any attempts to limit its authority would infringe upon the rights of teachers.

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“Certain recommendations must be carefully examined, especially those that interfere with the TSC. Education reforms should strengthen existing institutions rather than undermine their functions,” he said.

He said some proposals had been introduced without seeking input from education stakeholders regarding the management and supervision of teachers.

“We cannot allow the roles of the TSC to be transferred to other government agencies. It has been suggested that county commissioners and provisional administrators take over the role of overseeing teachers in schools, but we oppose such changes,” said Omboko.

Last week, the National Assembly expressed concerns about the implementation of education reforms without the approval of Parliament.

“We need to reconsider the laws affecting institutional structures, and we will push for parliamentary review to ensure the new education policies are effective for all. Teacher welfare must also be taken into account for an efficient and conducive working environment,” added Omboko.

Misori said the salary increase of between 7 and 9.5 per cent is a positive step, but he also mentioned that it falls short of the teachers’ expectations. He disclosed that negotiations for a future pay rise are still ongoing.

“We are demanding an increase of up to 50 per cent and are also insisting on teachers’ promotions in accordance with this increase. Remuneration should be extended to teachers who have attained Masters and Doctorate degrees while in service,” Misori said.

Misori accused the government of failing to disburse the capitation funds, saying school administrators are silently struggling.

“The principals are reluctant to admit they have not received funds from the national treasury, despite receiving four circulars since September 15. The Education ministry should ensure funds are released for smooth operation.”

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Teachers (KUPPET) wants the Ministry of Education (MoE) to withdraw a circular issued to schools recently saying that Ksh10B did not actually reach the institutions as stated.

This comes after the Principal Secretary (PS) for Basic Education Belio Kipsang’ on September 19,2023, issued a circular to all County Directors of Education (CDEs) instructing them to demand accountability for money received in schools in their jurisdictions.

“KUPPET urges the Government to withdraw the Circular, to disburse the long-delayed funds to schools and take maximum care against possible disruptions to the school calendar at this critical time,” KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori said.

In a statement released yesterday, the union boss stated that the total amount of Ksh3,449.50 per learner has been retained by the Ministry and remitted to KICD,CEMASTEA and NHIF from the Operations Account to cater for the medical insurance (EduAfya) of secondary school learners, stressing that Principals cannot account for over Ksh10 billion which they did not receive.

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“Ironically, it demands that Principals confirm receipt of such monies and account for them. Moreover, it directs the County Directors of Education to obtain receipts from Principals for Ksh4,002.87 per learner for the third term of 2023, when only Ksh3,187.87 per learner was remitted to schools,” he stated.

Further, Misori said that MoE owes secondary schools in the country Ksh19 billion. He noted that the Ministry owes schools Ksh905 per learner for the last Financial Year (FY) which ended June 30,2023,and a further Ksh5,561 per learner for the first quarter of the current FY 2023/2024.

Misori stated that schools have not received any capitation funds for this term,adding that the Ksh3,187 remitted on September 19,2023, partially offset the arrears owed from the previous FY.

“For the avoidance of doubt,information from Principals indicates that schools have not received any capitation funds for the third term of 2023,” he said.

According to KUPPET, in FY 2022/2023,schools received Ksh4,289 per learner in the first quarter released on July 27,2022;while in the second quarter Principals received Ksh4,485 per student on October 5,2022.In the third quarter, a total of Ksh4,413 per learner was released on January 26,2023.

In the fourth quarter,MoE released Ksh4,147 per learner on June 14, 2023; while in the first quarter of this FY, a total of Ksh4,002 per learner was released to schools on September 19,2023;making the cumulative funds received by Principals per learner Ksh21,338.

The move by the ministry of education to change KCSE grading structure has been challenged by the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers. KUPPET has termed the changes as a knee jerk reaction that will confuse the candidates more than helping them.

According to KUPPET, the changes will make students go for the easier options thus posing a threat to STEM related subjects and courses.

“The government is employing an escapist scheme that will see a lesser number of students taking up science subjects and thus will need to equip less number of facilities and laboratories,” Akello Misori, the KUPPET secretary general revealed.

Promote the student to take the easier route in academics and will slowly diminish the technical subjects.

“This will be detrimental to the science subjects because students are now going to take an easier route,” Misori added.

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The new KCSE grading structure will be implemented for the remaining classes under 8-4-4.

The changes, announced on Monday by the Education Cabinet Secretary, will take effect this year.

Under the new arrangement, proposed by the Presidential Working Party for Education Reform, the grading of KCSE will now use two compulsory subjects in determining the learners’ final scores.

The two mandatory subjects will be Mathematics and one language, (English, Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language) and any other five best performed subjects.

Previously there were five mandatory subjects across three cluster groups – Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, two sciences and one humanity.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers(Kuppet), has supported the proposal to allow sick candidates to skip national exams until they fully recover.

The proposal was made by the National Assembly’s Education Committee chairman Julias Melly, who said that it would be unfair to burden an ailing student with exams.

Melly argued that hospitalised candidates can also be given supplementary exams after they have recovered.

”We need to come up with a better solution. You cannot give exams to a sick person in hospital, we are looking for solutions to cope with this situation,” Melly said when he visited Mitihani House in Nairobi.

”It’s  wrong to give exams to someone who has been sick for a long time: One who has been operated on and is still on medication.”

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According to Kuppet Kilifi branch chairman Opollo K’Opollo,” many students who become ill during exams always find it difficult to complete their exams when hospitalised.”

Opollo urged the Kenya National Examination Council board to put more effort into ensuring that the examinations reach candidates on time due to the anticipated El Nino rains in October.

He said that this year there shall be three national exams which will be administered—Kenya Primary School Assessment (KPSEA) for Grade 6 learners, Kenya Certificate of Primary Education(KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education(KCSE).

The KCSE exams are set to begin on October 23 and end on November 24 while the rehearsals are set to begin on October 19.