By KEPHER OTIENO
Teachers have put the Government on notice that they would not supervise national exams if their salaries are not increased. They demand the Government harmonises their salaries with those of civil servants or face industrial action.
Addressing the Press in Kisumu, Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education (Kuppet) Assistant Secretary General Moses N’thurima wondered why the Governemnt was overlooking teachers’ remuneration.
“We have been waiting for the promise given by the State in vein. This is why we have now decided to go on strike as resolved by all our branches,” N’thurima said. But the State has up to two weeks to resolve the matter or else the union will have no alternative but mobilise teachers to down tools.
He cited civil servants in Job Group P who were earning 77,527 to 103,894 while teachers in same scale earned 63,782-81,404 as discriminatory.
They also questioned the rationale of teachers working in Nairobi getting higher house allowances as compared to those working outside the city.
Kuppet Kisumu branch Chairman Zablon Awange said it was wrong for the State to assume the salary discrepancies and expect them to produce admirable results.
“If teachers in Kisumu get house allowances of Sh12,000 a month and those in Nairobi Sh20,000 and both regions are cities then it defies logic,” he argued.
