Kuppet Announces Nationwide Teachers’ Strike in September.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has announced plans for a nationwide teachers’ strike starting in September. This decision stems from the government’s failure to honor the second phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which was supposed to be implemented in July.
Kuppet has voiced its frustration with the continuous reductions in the education budget. They feel that while other sectors waste resources, education suffers. Teachers did not receive the salary increments they were promised for July. These increments were already negotiated, signed, and deposited in the Industrial and Labour Relations Court. Akello Misori, Kuppet’s Secretary General, emphasized the union’s dissatisfaction with the situation.
The union pointed out that recent financial decisions by the government have worsened the sector’s challenges. Last year, the government increased university and college fees, which was intended to ease the financial pressure on these institutions. However, the result has been a rise in universities’ liabilities from Sh61 billion to Sh75 billion. Additionally, delays in student loans have compounded the issue, leaving students in financial limbo.
Reduced Capitation Funds
Moreover, the government reduced Free Day Secondary School (FDSE) capitation funds by 24 percent, decreasing from Sh22,244 to Sh17,000 per learner per year. This reduction occurred despite calls from principals and education stakeholders for an increase to counteract high inflation over the past seven years. The situation worsened when the government retracted its promise to hire 20,000 new teachers and convert 46,000 intern teachers to permanent, pensionable positions, which required an Sh18 billion budget. In contrast, Sh54 billion was allocated for state officers’ entertainment and travel.
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Earlier this year, the government discontinued the Edu-Afya medical insurance program, which previously covered about 3.5 million public secondary school students. This program, funded by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), provided Sh1,350 in premiums for each student. Its removal has significantly increased the financial burden on parents, affecting students’ well-being and access to necessary medical care.
Unprecedented Budget Cuts
Kuppet’s National Governing Council is set to address the significant budget cuts, which they describe as unprecedented. The scale of these reductions surpasses the impact of the Structural Adjustment Programmes of the mid-1980s. These budget cuts, along with the broken CBA agreement, are seen as severely detrimental to the education sector, particularly at the Junior Secondary School (JSS) level. The JSS already faces a teacher deficit of over 87,000. Kuppet argues that these actions undermine education quality and teacher morale.
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In response, Kuppet is mobilizing its members for a national strike in September. The strike aims to push for the full implementation of the 2021-2025 CBA, the hiring of 20,000 new teachers, and the conversion of 46,000 intern teachers to permanent positions. The union’s leadership believes these measures are crucial for safeguarding teachers’ rights and improving the education system amid growing challenges. Misori emphasized that the Sh18 billion cut would irreparably affect teaching in Junior Secondary Schools, which depend heavily on intern teachers.
In conclusion, Kuppet’s call for a strike reflects the union’s determination to address the significant challenges facing the education sector in Kenya. By advocating for the full implementation of the CBA and better support for teachers, Kuppet aims to enhance the quality of education and ensure that teachers receive the respect and compensation they deserve.
Kuppet Announces Nationwide Teachers’ Strike in September.
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