KNUT Threatens Exam Boycott and Disruptions Over Unpaid Dues
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has stated that teachers will boycott the supervision and marking of national examinations at the end of the year unless they are compensated for services rendered during last year’s tests.
Knut warned that teachers will disrupt the October and November national examinations if the Ministry of Education does not pay their salaries.
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will also be administered to Grade Six students.
Collins Oyuu, the secretary-general of Knut, stated that teachers who supervised, invigilated, and graded the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations in 2022 have not been paid.
If their grievances were not resolved, he instructed the afflicted teachers not to participate in a similar activity this year.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu stated two weeks ago that teachers and other contracted personnel engaged in the administration of examinations would be paid by the last day of July.
Dr. Belio Kipsang, the Principal Secretary for Basic Education, announced last Wednesday that the ministry had received 2 billion Kenyan Shillings from the National Treasury to pay exam officials.
Due to budgetary constraints, the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) has struggled to pay exam officials.
The government has maintained the same level of funding for national examinations despite the yearly increase in the number of applicants. “We were told the payment was factored in the budget.
We have given an ultimatum to Knec that they should not engage us if the payment is not forthcoming,” Mr. Oyuu said.
The KCPE and KPSEA examinations will commence on 30 October and conclude on 2 November.
The KCSE will be held from November 3 to November 24. The KCSE examination will be graded between November 27 and December 15.
Mr. Oyuu spoke at the annual general meeting of Knut’s Homa Bay County Suba branch.
KNUT Threatens Exam Boycott and Disruptions Over Unpaid Dues