The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has asked the government to review the mandatory retirement age of 60 years while rejecting a proposed plan to impose a Ksh10,500 training fee for Grade 9 examiners.
While addressing the press on Wednesday, Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima asked the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to review the retirement age of 60 years, which the government has vowed to enforce.
KUPPET is citing the need for experienced educators to continue contributing to the profession. The teachers' union wants the retirement age increased to 65 years.
This call follows a chaotic meeting three months ago, which sought to raise the retirement age of KUPPET officials to 65 years.
Already, the government has been adamant about enforcing the retirement age, with President William Ruto in July last year directing that all public servants in Kenya who have reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 must retire without any extensions.
He stated, "There will be no extension of tenures of public servants who are 60."
KUPPET has also rejected a proposal by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) for Grade 9 examiners to pay a Ksh10,500 training fee.
Nthurima led the opposition to the fees for teachers expected to be part of the examiners for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSCA).
KUPPET insists that the government should foot the bill for the training of its teachers.
KJSCA is an important component of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), designed to evaluate learners' competencies at the end of Grade 9, marking the completion of junior secondary education. This assessment succeeds the former Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).
KJSEA exams are slated to start in October, with practical exams beginning on October 27 and concluding on October 31.
The theory examinations commence on November 3, starting with English and Chemistry, and conclude on November 21.
Additionally, there are mid-year project-based assessments for specific subjects like Creative Arts & Sports scheduled from May to July, while Pre-Technical Studies is scheduled for July.
