The giant teachers union is making a raft of demands that all presidential hopefuls must pledge to fulfill if they expect to win the backing of its more than 250,000 members.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) demanded a 300 per cent salary increment and the full implementation of teachers’ allowances as indicated in Legal Notice number 534.
Knut national chairman Wilson Sossion said teachers would only support a presidential candidate whose manifesto was robust in teachers’ affairs.
Addressing the 37th session of the Secondary School Head Teachers Association in Mombasa, the teachers said they want to adopt the best teaching practices and demanded that a better scheme of service for all teachers be prepared.
Under the scheme, Mr Sossion said, school principals and primary heads will be awarded half of their basic salary towards responsibility allowances.
Hiring teachers
Deputy school principals will have an additional 40 per cent of their basic salary towards responsibility allowances.
Senior teachers and heads of department will be awarded 30 per cent of their salaries to cater for their responsibility allowances.
“This will only cost Sh11 billion to make school management complete,” said Sossion. Teachers also said they would only consider a candidate who promises to bridge the teacher-pupil ratio by hiring 40,000 teachers and another 25,000 for nursery schools.
“Anybody thinking of State House but has no agenda for teachers should forget about us. We want you to make teachers part of your manifesto. If you speak our language we will also look at you,” said Sossion.
And yesterday, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka was the first to sell his agenda to teachers, setting out a raft of reforms he intends to institute in the education sector.
Kalonzo said his Government would ensure a realistic formula for funding Kenya’s education at all levels and that funds meant for free education cash is released on time.
The VP said the budgetary allocation for education has remained constant for many years yet the sector has growing needs that require adequate funding.
Early childhood
“This is an oversight that must be corrected. My vision for education sector is deliverable,” he said.
Kalonzo also said he will ensure all teachers are well paid to motivate them for better academic performance. In addition to this, he said Early Childhood Education would be streamlined to ensure a strong foundation for all children.
“I believe that teachers deserve better pay just like their counterparts in the civil service,” said Kalonzo.
He said his restructuring agenda would aim at wholesome reforms.
Kalonzo said jobless teachers would be employed in neighbouring countries.
