KNUT opposes proposal to demote primary school heads without degrees
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has opposed a proposal by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms to demote primary school heads without degrees.
According to KNUT secretary general Collins Oyuu, the proposal, if implemented, will be the worst labour practice implemented in Kenya.
“We are prepared, and we have our teeth out to bite where necessary so that our teachers remain comfortable as they were. If anything, some of these heads you are making reference to are some of the best heads," Oyuu said.
"It is basically administration, and we all went to college to learn basic administration and we qualified highly.”
Oyuu says that the KNUT will present a proposal that will see affected school heads go back to university to get degrees and retain their positions. He says that at least 90 per cent of primary school heads have degrees.
According to the proposals by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms, primary school heads hosting Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) have until December 30, 2023, to head the institutions.
So far, 23,000 are hosting JSS with some of the school heads having no degrees.
“We have had a lot of gaps that ought to have been filled because the whole situation in the implementation of JSS was a bit jumbled up. Grade 7 students have transitioned to JSS, but where are the teachers?” Oyuu posed.
Oyuu is calling on the Teachers' Service Commission (TSC) to employ teachers with TSC numbers, who are being recruited by counties.
“Counties are employing teachers with TSC numbers, it beats logic for one to be holding the number but are employed by the county. TSC must now employ these teachers because this will be in line with teachers in terms of quality assurance and even in work in our schools,” Oyuu said.
