Resolve teachers’ health cover row

Rival teachers’ unions have clashed over an improved medical cover for their more than 280,000 members worth Sh5.9 billion. If implemented, the lowest earning teacher will qualify for an inpatient cover of Sh300,000 and Sh1 million for the highest earning.

But the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has opposed the deal, saying teachers should not be deducted more money from their payslips to fund the medical scheme.

It says teachers cannot afford to forfeit their monthly medical allowances and at the same time pay the new rates to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

On the other hand, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) insists that the deal was negotiated after wide consultations and all parties, including Kuppet, signed it.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has given the medical scheme a clean bill of health. It has also said the NHIF Act could be amended to allow deductions be based on basic pay.

We urge the three parties to widen consultations and allow sober deliberations on the medical scheme. It would be unfortunate to open another battle front in the education sector, especially on an issue that affects individual teachers on health matters.

Health has become an expensive undertaking and majority of Kenyans are struggling with bills.

Teachers must get adequate cushion from medical costs and it would be unfortunate to introduce a costly medical scheme that leaves many of them grumbling and not get the desired results.

Let all parties be transparent and work towards the best interest of teachers.