Teachers under the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Trans Nzoia County on Monday staged demonstrations in Kitale town to protest delayed confirmation of Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers, stalled promotions, and unpaid examination dues.
Trans Nzoia KUPPET Executive Secretary Dan Kutai, the teachers marched through the streets of Kitale chanting slogans and demanding urgent government intervention and action from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Speaking during the protest, Kutai warned that teachers were ready to escalate industrial action if their concerns were not addressed.
“We are going to take the most firm step that has never been taken before. We want the government to listen to us,” said Kutai.
The union accused the government of frustrating JSS intern teachers through low pay and delays in confirming them to permanent and pensionable terms, despite their central role in implementing the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
According to KUPPET, the monthly stipend of Sh17,000 paid to interns is inadequate and demoralising.
“It beats logic that the government is paying JSS interns Sh17,000 and expects quality education to be achieved,” Kutai stated.
The union demanded immediate confirmation of 44,000 JSS intern teachers, warning that failure to act could disrupt learning nationwide.
“If they are not going to confirm our 44,000 JSS intern teachers, it shall not be business as usual,” he warned.
KUPPET officials also called for autonomy of JSS teachers, arguing that continued placement under primary school administration was undermining effective delivery of education reforms.
The teachers further faulted delays in payment of examiners, invigilators, and supervisors who participated in national examinations conducted by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
The union said many teachers who worked in last year’s examinations are still awaiting payment.
“If the government is not going to pay the examiners, supervisors and invigilators, we are going to paralyse learning completely,” Kutai warned.
They also called for scrapping of the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), saying teachers had stagnated in the same job groups for years despite rising workloads and the high cost of living.
The protesting teachers later presented a petition containing their grievances to Deputy TSC Director Trans Nzoia County Vincent Mamai at the county offices.
KUPPET now wants the government to urgently address the grievances to avoid possible nationwide disruption of learning in schools.
