TSC Loophole That Untrained Teachers Exploited to Earn Higher Salaries & Promotion

TSC CEO Nancy Macharia before National Assembly committee on Monday May 15, 2023
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia before the National Assembly committee on Monday, May 15, 2023
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Parliament of Kenya

Primary teachers, on Tuesday, May 23, exposed a loophole in the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) grading system that let untrained teachers earn promotions and higher salaries.

In a petition filed at Parliament, the primary teachers stated that the former TSC Directorate of Personnel Management issued a scheme of service in 1996 where all teachers with A-level academic qualifications were required to submit their names for promotions countrywide.

The petitioners argued that untrained A-level tutors sought to outwit the government by attending a two-week programme at Kagumo and Bondo Teachers Training Colleges to attain certificates.

According to the primary teachers, this essentially locked out other qualified A-level teachers who had not attended the course as the Ministry of Education proceeded to grade and promote the tutors who participated in the two-weeks training course.

A photo of Education CS Ezekiel Machogu speaking during the launch of university placements on May 17, 2023.
A photo of Education CS Ezekiel Machogu speaking during the launch of university placements on May 17, 2023.
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KUCCPS

"The Ministry thereafter proceeded to grade untrained “A” level teachers who had attended a two weeks programme at Kagumo and Bondo Teachers Training colleges to Secondary School Teachers, locking other “A” Level Primary School Teachers who had not attended the course resulting to complains by the “A” level trained teachers,” the petition read in part.

Aggrieved primary school teachers noted that they had not gotten promotions and higher salaries as promised

This, they argued, contravened the Standard Labour Practices where every worker is entitled to fair remuneration, reasonable working conditions, and the right to join and participate in trade union activities and go on strike to advocate for their labour-related rights.

The petition was committed to the Standing Committee on Education which is required to respond and table the report to the Senate within sixty days of filing the petition.

TSC and teachers' unions recently held initial talks to review the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to push for tutors' pay rise.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) pushed for a 60 per cent salary increment, while the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) proposed a 42 per cent hike.

KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu noted that teachers had suffered irreparable damage owing to the failure of TSC to address salary increments in the past seven years.

The latest CBA deal signed in 2021 did not touch on salary increments, as all parties agreed that the country was recovering from the ravaging effects of the pandemic.

TSC Chairman Dr Jamleck Muturi John, Commissioner Annceta Wafukho and CEO Dr Nancy Macharia lead teachers in the World Teachers Day Kenya procession at Kenya School of Government on October 5, 2022.
TSC Chairman Dr Jamleck Muturi John, Commissioner Annceta Wafukho and CEO Dr Nancy Macharia lead teachers in the World Teachers Day Kenya procession at Kenya School of Government on October 5, 2022.
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TSC