KUPPET Asks TSC to increase salaries for teachers in high-risk areas
KUPPET asks TSC to increase salaries for teachers in high-risk areas. The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET),there are three counties in the northeast region as well as Turkana and Tana River,that are experiencing security problems. TSC has been asked to review teacher salaries in these areas.
The Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima, said that the current hardship allowance for teachers does not accurately reflect the dangers they face in the above listed fields.
On the other hand , the Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has asked the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to send non-local teachers the above areas fora shorter period before relocating them in the wake of protests .
Earlier August 2, CS Kindiki informed the parliamentary education committee that the teacher unrest had affected most of them mentally.
In addition, kindiki also said that some local communities have incited hostility toward outside educators, hence making those areas a thread.
Inorder to protect these teachers from the protect them from Al-Shabaab attacks, kindiki advised temporarily gathering teachers in one location.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Mandera County said that there is a shortage of more than 2,000 teachers who are expected to to fill vacancies in 300 public primary schools and 550 public secondary schools.
On the other hand blames goes to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Internal Security for ignoring calls from these teachers which resulted to horrific deaths of 28 teachers in Mandera 8 last year.
Teachers have been expressing need to have them transferred due to
- unpleasant encounters with students, principals,
- Several attacks from parents and district school administrators who made derogatory comments about them. Teachers say that they are even referred to as calling them ‘hard” hair) teachers .This puts rheur lives on danger.