KNUT Presents Promotion Woes to MPs as TSC Data Request Sparks Controversy
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) faced its third setback in prosecuting its case against the Teachers Service Commission regarding the promotion and employment of tutors. The National Assembly Education committee, led by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, on Tuesday, sought details from Knut regarding the number of teachers serving in acting capacity for more than six months.
Additionally, the committee requested Knut to provide a comprehensive proposal guiding teacher promotions. Financial implications and the situation of teachers acting as heads of institutions, who were claimed to have not benefited from a salary increase, were also expected to be detailed by Knut.
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During their presentation, Knut was challenged to present a table outlining teachers moved to junior secondary positions not earning the recommended pay. However, Secretary Collins Oyuu, when speaking, asserted that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) was better equipped to provide the necessary data, seemingly contradicting the purpose of their appearance before the committee.
Members of Parliament criticized Oyuu for what they perceived as his lack of preparedness in presenting the case before them. Melly accused Oyuu of showing insufficient commitment to addressing teachers’ challenges, even as Oyuu sought an audience with the MPs.
Melly stated, “You are the voice of the teachers who are supposed to know their problem and advise them accordingly. The late Adongo had issues of the union on his fingertips. We cannot buy your argument; you need to have parallel information with the commission.”
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During Oyuu’s presentation, he emphasized that TSC is the only centralized body capable of authoritatively collecting and collating such information and data. Oyuu informed the committee that Knut, based on TSC records, identified 1,011 teachers in job group M (C5) who raised complaints about not being promoted to job group M/N (D1). After vetting, only 310 teachers were found eligible for promotion, according to Oyuu.
He accused TSC of promoting teachers to serve in acting capacity despite knowing that they were not qualified. MPs, however, argued that the union had not adequately educated teachers on the requirements for the next job group before accepting the offers. Melly pointed out that the union failed to raise these concerns with the committee.
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KNUT Presents Promotion Woes to MPs as TSC Data Request Sparks Controversy
