Knut issues strike threat over Sh6,000 levy for training
By Mutuku Mwangangi
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has dismissed as “illegal” the proposed skills improvement training introduced by the Teachers Service Commission.
The union has consequently threatened to mobilise members for industrial action should TSC not rescind the scheme.
The TSC has suggested that teachers undergo the training, dubbed Teacher Professional Development Modules (TPD).
In a statement to the media yesterday, Knut secretary general Wilson Sossion urged Labour Cabinet secretary Simon Chelugui and his Education counterpart George Magoha to convene a meeting to address the matter within seven days, failure to which, teachers will go on strike.
The trade unionist invoked a ruling by the Employment and Labour Relations Court on July 12, 2019, barring the implementation of the models.
Career development
The court said the models “fell short of professional development programmes in line with TSC’s career development and progression regulations”.
“The commission, in defiance of the law, has again unilaterally contracted four educational institutions which will train teachers at a mandatory Sh6,000 for a single attendance, and the teacher has to train five times during his or her teaching career,” said Sossion.
He said the deductions from the teachers’ salaries were unjustified and asked the commission to stick to its mandate as an employer. At a press conference in Machakos, Sossion asked the commission to consult with the union on the best way to improve teachers’ skills.
“We were not involved in the development of the TPD modules which the commission has planned to roll out in April. The commission for unexplained reasons has continued to mislead the public, in particular the teaching fraternity, that it engaged all stakeholders, which is a true show of impunity,” said Sossion.
People Daily established that there were fears amongst teachers that the modules could be used to replace academic certificates which are usually used to upgrade and promote teachers as per the schemes of service.
Sossion was flanked by Knut chairman, Wycliff Omuchei and treasurer John Matiang’i.
The unionists said they would not allow TSC to get away with “bad policies” that could hurt the welfare of teachers.
