TSC Loophole That Granted Unqualified Teachers Higher Salaries & Promotions
Tuesday, May 23, primary school teachers uncovered a flaw in the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) grading system that allowed unqualified teachers to receive promotions and higher salaries.
In a petition submitted to Parliament, the primary teachers asserted that in 1996, the former TSC Directorate of Personnel Management issued a scheme of service requiring all teachers with A-level academic qualifications to submit their names for countrywide promotions.
The petitioners argued that unqualified A-level tutors attempted to deceive the government by undergoing a two-week certification program at Kagumo and Bondo Teachers Training Colleges.
According to the primary teachers, the Ministry of Education proceeded to evaluate and promote the tutors who participated in the two-week training course, effectively excluding other qualified A-level teachers who had not attended the course.
“The Ministry then proceeded to promote untrained “A” level teachers who had attended a two-week programme at Kagumo and Bondo Teachers Training colleges to Secondary School Teachers, while locking other “A” level primary school teachers who had not attended the course, resulting in complaints from “A” level trained teachers,” the petition stated.
Primary school instructors were disappointed that they had not received the promised promotions and pay raises.
They argued that this violated the Standard Labour Practices, which stipulate that every worker is entitled to equitable compensation, reasonable working conditions, and the right to join and participate in trade union activities as well as to go on strike to advocate for their labor-related rights.
The petition was referred to the Standing Committee on Education, which must respond and submit a report to the Senate within sixty days of receipt.
Recently, TSC and teachers’ unions held preliminary negotiations to revise the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in an effort to increase tutor pay.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) advocated for a 60% raise, whereas the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) proposed a 42% increase.
Collins Oyuu, secretary-general of the Kenya National Union of Teachers, stated that teachers have suffered irreparable harm as a result of TSC’s failure to resolve salary increases over the past seven years.
All parties concurred that the country was still recovering from the devastating effects of the pandemic when they signed the most recent CBA agreement in 2021.
TSC Loophole That Granted Unqualified Teachers Higher Salaries & Promotions
