No allowance increase for KCSE exams supervisors, KNEC says
By Lucy Mumbi |
KUPPET has threatened to organise a teachers’ strike against supervising and marking national exams, citing inadequate allowances and poor working conditions.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has ruled out any increase in allowances for invigilators, supervisors, and principals overseeing the 2024 KCSE exams.
Speaking on Tuesday in Murang'a County when he supervised the distribution of the exam papers, KNEC CEO David Njengere stated that there is no budget to accommodate demands for higher pay.
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Njengere noted that while the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has pushed for an allowance increment for exam officials, current financial constraints make it unfeasible.
He revealed that the stipends were reviewed last year and the same rates will be used to pay the invigilators this year.
"Last year we increased those rates, and that was after almost five years of having the same rates. So we, of course, appreciate the work that invigilators and supervisors do, and whenever the budget allows us, we will always be willing and ready to increase those rates. For now, we will stick to the rates that we raised last year because the budget will not allow us to increase beyond," he said.
Poor working conditions
KUPPET has threatened to organise a teachers’ strike against supervising and marking national exams, citing inadequate allowances and poor working conditions.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akelo Misori announced that the union is demanding an increase in daily pay to Sh4,000 for teachers marking exams and called for better accommodation during the process.
Currently, KNEC compensates invigilators, supervisors, and centre managers between Sh400 and Sh500 per day, while exam markers receive as little as Sh150.
Misori criticised the rates, highlighting the inadequate boarding and catering facilities for teachers involved in the examination process.
“Even casual workers at construction sites are paid better than teachers managing highly valued national examinations. This is unacceptable,” Misori said during the World Teachers Day celebrations in Embu County.
He had insisted that allowances should be adjusted before the exams commence.
"KNEC should be alive to the current trends in the economy. Teachers are professionals yet they are being treated like unskilled workers," he added.
He pointed out that headteachers with degrees wake up as early as 4:30 a.m. to collect exam papers but are only compensated with Sh500 per day, while their deputies receive no pay.
"We shall not allow this to continue," Misori said, asserting that KUPPET is committed to ensuring fair compensation for teachers managing the exams.
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