Teachers stage strike over Ruto changes.
Teachers stage strike over Ruto changes.
Teachers stage strike over Ruto changes.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) wrote a letter to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) demanding an explanation for why the government has imposed Housing Levy and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) deductions without consulting the two organizations.
According to KNUT Communications Director Peter Amunga, the unions have set the commission a 14 day deadline to react to the notices, failing which they will take serious action, including a strike.
Amunga also verified that these complaints were raised at a conference held on Saturday, August 4 at Tom Mboya Level College in Kisumu.
Teachers from across the country attended the conference to express thei dissatisfaction with the effects of the deductions on their livelihoods.
The teachers regretted that they had no choice but to cooperate because the government intends to backdate the taxes as a result of the Court of Appeal’s decision to lift the orders that had suspended the implementation of the Finance Act, 2023.
“Teachers have called for a general strike.” The unions agreed with the TSC that they would not strike during the midst of the school year. This was implemented following the outbreak to allow students to catch up with the academic schedule,” he explained.
“However, the agreement does not preclude unions from striking.” Strikes are permitted under Kenyan labor rules, and unions may call for them.”
Contributing to two schemes, NSSF and a Provident Fund established by TSC, is one of the problems teachers are protesting.
NSSF rates call for a monthly contribution equal to 12% of one’s monthly wage, with 6% withdrawn from the employee’s pay and the remaining 6% paid by the employer.
Teachers, on the other hand, contribute 7.5% of their income to the Provident Fund.
According to Amunga, this has made it extremely difficult for the instructors to continue with the academic cycle. He stated that the instructors support the Law Society of Kenya’s (LSK) initiative to seek legal remedy in relation to the additional taxes.
The communications specialist also questioned the Presidential Working Party on Education’s drastic modifications to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Among the planned revisions, the number of subjects taught in junior secondary schools will be reduced from 14 to 9, with additional caps for pre-primary (5 courses), lower primary (7 subjects), and upper primary (8 subjects).
Others include eliminating school categorization and mandating three months of community work for all seniors graduating from high school.
The report has also recommended university graduates to complete a nine-month community service.
Amunga questioned the measures’ viability and if the administration is fully equipped to ensure a smooth transition.
“On paper, they look great, but in practice, most of them don’t work.” For example, when converting schools to junior and senior high schools, you did not address the human resource, who are the teachers. The government is not discussing the necessary training. “What has recently been done is more of a seminar than training,” he explained.
He stated that most teachers are unaware of the curriculum revisions and are compelled to learn about them in the press.
“They are unclear about tests and measurements; we need specifics on what kinds of tasks or exams will be administered, as well as who will set and administer these exams,” he added.
