Union wants Knec to pay head teachers

Business

By PATRICK MURIUNGI

Teachers in Nyambene want the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) to pay school principals and head teachers for overseeing the administration of national examinations in their schools.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) branch Executive Secretary George Thaimuta said head teachers, as the managers of schools, assist in examinations management but their contribution is never recognised by the examinations council.

"What pains us most is the fact that whenever there are cases of irregularities in an examination centre, teachers are interdicted and harassed incessantly while on the contrary the efforts they make in ensuring smooth running of examinations is always overlooked. It is very unfair and hurts us a lot," said Mr Thaimuta.

teachers have contract

Addressing teachers during an Annual General Meeting at Maua Youth Polytechnic, Thaimuta warned Knec that the teachers have a contract with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) which does not include administering national examinations.

The official said: "Our mandate is limited to preparing candidates adequately to sit examinations. Whatever goes on during those examinations is the entire responsibility of Knec."

He further said the examinations council should henceforth pay head teachers an attractive remuneration for the work they do on its behalf so their role is properly recognised as part of the examinations system.

Knut National Treasurer Fred Ontere, who attended the meeting, said the union’s National Executive Council would lobby for principals and school heads to be accredited as Knec agents.

The teachers, meanwhile, reiterated their opposition to a proposal to have them take renewable licences.

They said they would strongly resist the requirement for teachers to be registered by TSC after every three years, arguing it is an attempt by the Government to sneak in performance contracts.

The teachers put the TSC boss Gabriel Lengoiboni on notice that he would face their wrath should he proceed to implement the proposal.

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