KUPPET threatens exam boycott over low allowances, demands fair compensation for teachers

Just a few weeks before the National examinations, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has renewed its warning 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.

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) currently compensates invigilators, supervisors, and centre managers between Sh400 and Sh500 daily, 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 on Saturday.

He insisted that allowances should be adjusted before the exams commence.

The warning comes even as KNEC moves to introduce stricter measures to prevent exam cheating, including the rotation of supervisors and a ban on mobile phones for invigilators.

Ultimatum

Misori cautioned that if KNEC does not address their demands, teachers will refuse to participate when the exams begin in late October.

"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 am 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.

He also voiced concerns regarding government policies that undermine teachers’ welfare and status within society, referencing budget cuts in education that affect the hiring of new teachers, promotions, and infrastructure development.

The upcoming Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams will be taken by 965,501 candidates across 10,755 centres.

This marks an increase from the 903,260 candidates who sat the exam in 2023.

KNEC will also administer the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) to 1,313,913 candidates across 32,573 centres, bringing the total number of candidates for national exams in 2024 to over 2.27 million.

The 2024 KCSE exams rehearsals are planned for October 18, with the main examinations running from October 22 to November 22.