KNUT explains the withdrawal of the strike and the KUPPET-TSC impasse.
In defiance of a court injunction, the Teachers Service Commission has instructed its officers to gather information on school attendance in order to discipline striking teachers.
This came to light on Thursday, when instructors on the TSC payroll began getting their August salaries. By Friday, most teachers should have received their full salary.
The pay increases are in accordance with the second phase of the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement, which teachers have asked be implemented. They are retroactive to July 1.
According to The Star, TSC has instructed its county directors to gather the information right now and forward it to the headquarters so that the appropriate steps can be taken.
This is the latest action taken by the commission to reprimand the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers, who have been on strike for the fifth day.
Learning at public secondary schools remained paralyzed on Thursday as teachers refrained from entering classes and leaving students unsupervised.
Days after students returned for their third term of classes, only administrators persisted in their boycott of government schools.
According to Kuppet authorities, unless their employer signs a return-to-work agreement, their members will remain out of the classroom.
TSC, on the other hand, has opposed the strike and has taken the matter to the Labour and Employment Court, where the commission was able to get rulings on Tuesday stating that the Kuppet strike was unlawful.
Given the chaotic state of secondary school education, the employer requests that Kuppet members return to work in accordance with the court rulings.
It has threatened to issue a contempt citation to the union executives.
The commission had served the union with the court orders and anticipated compliance, according to TSC legal director Cavin Anyuor.
Anyuor stated, “The commission will be keeping an eye on union members’ compliance and expect officials to respect the order.”
In response to an urgent application submitted by TSC on Monday, the court issued the order on Tuesday.
When the court discusses the subject on September 5, Justice James Rika stated that the orders will not be altered.
Teachers found to have missed work since the start of the school year will be disciplined based on the data that TSC authorities at the subcounty level are compiling.
School heads have been instructed to complete the teacher attendance register, which is kept in the feared black book, and send it to the subcounty TSC representatives.
To improve supervision of schools under their purview, TSC officials have also been instructed to collaborate closely with their counterparts in education.
A senior TSC official affirmed the most recent action, stating that the data will be essential for making judgments.
“We have the instructions out to our officials because we believe the strike is illegal as directed by the court,” he stated.
According to TSC regulations, teachers must report to school on opening days without fail. Teachers who are found to be missing will face harsh consequences.
In the worst situation, absentees’ payslips and retirement benefits would be impacted as their pay was withheld to make up for the days they missed.
This explains why the majority of teachers just show up for technical sessions in the classroom before leaving.
Since they act as TSC agents in their respective institutions, school administrators—including head teachers, principals, their deputies, and senior instructors—are not allowed to go on strike.
Kuppet has emphasized that the strike is primarily about defending Kenyan children’s access to an education, not merely about the welfare of teachers.
Kuppet secretary general Akello Misori stated, “We urge our members to ignore any distractions and continue picketing until the union signs a return-to-work formula that addresses our grievances.”
Kuppet has made several demands, including the advancement of instructors and the complete execution of the 2021–2025 CBA.
The resumption of junior secondary school teachers’ medical coverage and their employment are two more.
The National Treasury released Sh13 billion to implement the CBA, as requested by teachers, according to the TSC.
It was declared that educators might obtain health benefits at any facility of their choosing.
Teachers will receive a pay increase of between Sh1,000 and Sh3,000 under the new compensation adjustments, which take effect on July 1.
Based on the CBA, the teacher in Job Group B5, who makes the least amount of money, would now receive Sh23,830, as opposed to Sh22,739 previously.
A senior primary school teacher in grade C2 will receive a raise in base pay from Sh44,776 to Sh47,858 per month.
Head teachers of elementary schools in Grade C will receive a basic pay increase of Sh78,667 to Sh79,651, while Grade D chief principals will receive a compensation increase of Sh159,534 to Sh162,239.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers canceled its strike hours on Sunday night in preparation for the start of the third semester.
They claimed that TSC will have enough time to respond to their demands after the judgment.
Following a meeting of the National Executive Council, which Secretary General Collins Oyuu presided, Knut retracted its threat of strike.
The action revealed the growing divisions between Kuppet and Knut, the two largest teacher unions in the nation, at a time when educators are demanding better working conditions.
KNUT explains the withdrawal of the strike and the KUPPET-TSC impasse.
