KUPPET Teachers Threaten to Boycott KCSE Exam Supervision Over Poor Working Condition
In response to poor treatment, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has threatened to boycott the invigilation, supervision, and marking of national examinations.
This occurs as the commencement dates for the national examinations set for the end of this month are quickly approaching.
The union’s national officers lamented the poor and dangerous working conditions, as well as the meager and late pay, to which its members had been subjected in the past.
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Before its members could determine whether to offer their services, KUPPET demanded an agreement with the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to harmonize the contentious issues.
Tuesday marked the annual general meeting of the KUPPET branch, which was conducted at a hotel in Mosocho, Kisii County.
KUPPET members and officials from Nyanza, Western, and Rift Valley attended the meeting.
Moses Nthurima, the national deputy secretary general, told journalists that the union has no agreement with the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) regarding the appointment and use of its members in supervising and grading national examinations.
Nthurima expressed concern that teachers often work overtime without receiving equal pay when invigilating for KNEC exams.
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“When our members are invigilating, they leave home early and come back at night, thus working overtime, yet KNEC does not address the concept of equal pay for work done,” Nthurima said.
Discrimination Allegations
Accordingly, Nthurima demanded that KNEC involve the union in addressing the issue, which he described as bordering on discrimination.
Nthurima voiced his concerns about discrimination, emphasizing that KNEC is paying security teams (policemen) while teachers face lengthy delays, some waiting for up to seven months.
Mr. Nthurima noted that KNEC offers less than Sh100 per paper graded, with the amount varying by subject.
In a similar vein, KUPPET requested that KNEC improve the working conditions of teachers who grade national exams.
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Communication Restrictions at Marking Centers
He likened exam marking centers to concentration camps, prohibiting teacher communication devices like mobile phones.
Freedom of information is enshrined in this country’s constitution, which is very progressive. Mr. Nthurima stated that teachers cannot even communicate with their families.
KUPPET has noted that KNEC frequently subject markers to sleeping in unsanitary student dormitories, exposing them to the risk of contracting fleas and other skin infections.
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Boycott Call and Renegotiations
KUPPET encouraged its members not to betray the union’s stance by avoiding reporting to marking centers until KNEC addresses their concerns, thus avoiding the conditions they find objectionable.
Mr. Nthurima stated that they would also use such discussions to renegotiate the very low per-paper marking rates.
Julius Korir, national vice-president of KUPPET, shared Mr. Nthurima’s opinion.
Korir stated that without additional funds for supervision, invigilation, and marking, they are advising their members to boycott. He urged members not to go to examination and marking centers, thus standing in solidarity with the union.
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KUPPET Teachers Threaten to Boycott KCSE Exam Supervision Over Poor Working Condition
