TSC, KUPPET agree to hire 20,000 JSS teachers, promote 30,000 more
By Lucy Mumbi |
KUPPET National Chairman, Omboko Milemba, disclosed that a decision was made to employ 20,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers and promote over 30,000 others, starting June this year.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) have reached a landmark agreement to address critical issues affecting teachers in the country.
During a six-day joint meeting held in Naivasha, both parties deliberated on various concerns raised by KUPPET, particularly regarding teachers' employment conditions and promotions.
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Expressing satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, KUPPET National Chairman, Omboko Milemba, disclosed that a decision was made to employ 20,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers and promote over 30,000 others, starting June this year.
He stated that Sh4 billion will be required to hire the 20,000 teachers needed to handle the JSS crisis across the country.
“What the commission needs to ask Parliament, and they promised they have already asked, for them to employ the 20,000 teachers is a total of Sh4 billion and we have 26,000 teachers who are supposed to be confirmed to permanent and pensionable, that will cost Sh7.8 billion,” he said.
“The commission has also promised to look into the issue of those teachers who had gotten presidential decrees of being promoted and ensure they are promoted.”
He added that the government has also promised to relook into the teachers’ medical cover.
“The government will look at the implementation of new Group Life Cover, Group Personal Accident Cover, and Work Injury Benefits insurance for teachers as part of the medical scheme,” he said.
KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori had called for an urgent need to alleviate school teacher shortages and address long-standing stagnation issues among educators.
He had expressed concerns over poor staffing of schools, particularly in JSS where only two teachers per stream were handling all the learning areas.
While echoing Milemba's sentiments, Misori reiterated the need for equitable distribution of teachers, particularly in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) regions, where at least 2,000 newly employed JSS teachers will be posted.
He added that in January 2025, TSC had agreed to convert all the 26,000 intern teachers recruited in 2023, to permanent and pensionable terms.
He also said TSC has agreed to the union’s demand to review the Career Progression Guidelines that have contributed to stagnation among teachers and to develop new guidelines through public participation.
Misori also said the union was satisfied with the recent promotion of over 50,000 teachers after an audit revealed only 14 cases with issues.
“The commission has addressed our concerns about the promotion of teachers not in the payroll and explained the remedy for 14 teachers who earned the promotion while not being in the payroll,” he said.
On the issue of delayed pensions for teachers, Misori revealed that TSC was collaborating with the Department of Pensions to expedite the processes, ensuring the timely disbursement of pensions to retired educators.
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