Primary Teachers Expose TSC Grading System Flaw; Untrained Teachers Earning Promotions & Higher Salaries
Primary teachers recently brought attention to a loophole in the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) grading system that has allowed untrained teachers to earn promotions and higher salaries.
In a petition filed at Parliament, these teachers highlighted the issue and demanded action.
The primary teachers stated in their petition that the former TSC Directorate of Personnel Management introduced a scheme of service in 1996.
According to this scheme, all teachers with A-level academic qualifications were required to submit their names for promotions across the country.
The petitioners argued that untrained A-level tutors took advantage of this scheme by attending a two-week program at Kagumo and Bondo Teachers Training Colleges to obtain certificates.
This allowed them to circumvent the system and compete for promotions alongside qualified A-level teachers who had not attended the course.
Locking Out Qualified Teachers:
As a result of the scheme, the Ministry of Education proceeded to grade and promote the untrained A-level teachers who had participated in the two-week training course.
This action effectively excluded other qualified A-level primary school teachers who had not attended the program.
This disparity led to complaints from the A-level trained teachers who felt overlooked.
The primary school teachers who filed the petition expressed their disappointment in not receiving the promised promotions and higher salaries.
They argued that this situation violated the principles of fair remuneration, reasonable working conditions, and the right to participate in trade union activities as outlined in the Standard Labor Practices.
Action and Response:
The petition has been committed to the Standing Committee on Education, which is now responsible for responding to the concerns raised.
The committee is required to submit a report to the Senate within sixty days of the petition being filed.
This indicates that there is an official process in place to address the issue and provide a resolution.
Recently, the TSC and teachers’ unions engaged in initial talks to review the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the aim of advocating for salary increases for teachers.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) called for a 60% salary increment, while the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) proposed a 42% hike.
Long-standing Salary Increment Issues:
Collins Oyuu, the Secretary-General of KNUT, highlighted that teachers had been adversely affected by the TSC’s failure to address salary increments for the past seven years.
This ongoing issue has caused significant damage to the teachers’ financial well-being.
The most recent CBA deal signed in 2021 did not address salary increments due to the collective understanding that the country was still recovering from the devastating effects of the pandemic.
Consequently, teachers have had to endure stagnant salaries for an extended period.
Primary Teachers Expose TSC Grading System Flaw; Untrained Teachers Earning Promotions & Higher Salaries
