What new TSC-KUPPET deal means for Kenya's education future

KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori (Front third left) during the NEC Meeting in Nairobi during teachers strike on Sept 1, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] Although the Sh33.8 billion new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is bringing relief to thousands of teachers in lower job groups, it misses key demands of teachers. KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori on Tuesday, July 22, while on Spice FM, revealed that housing allowance, commuter allowance, and scholarships for teachers have remained stagnant since 2014, despite soaring cost of living was not addressed. "We had expected the TSC to recognise teachers who've paid out of pocket for postgraduate degrees including PhDs, but nothing was allocated for scholarships or professional development," said Misori. "You can't expect a teacher in major towns and cities to live in a better place without housing support." The new salary adjustment package will be spread over four years, affecting all 410,000 teachers. Those under TSC will see the bulk of this amount go to basic pay increments, with entry-level high school teachers' salaries rising by Sh5,200 from Sh35,900 to Sh41,000. "This CBA marks a shift towards fairness. In the last agreement, school heads benefited the most. This time, the ordinary teacher, the one carrying the daily burden, is at the center," said Misori. Misori described the negotiation process as "intense and full of intricacies," noting that while the outcome marked a significant step forward for junior teachers, it fell short of union expectations. "This process, which has just been completed, was full of complexities involving engagement and compromise. The award did not meet even a third of our expectations. But as a union, we believe in taking what we have while continuing to fight for more." He added that while this agreement offers a foundation for future engagements, the Union is not ruling out renewed negotiations, adding that KUPPET agreed to have it reviewed by June 30, 2026. "Our work is not done. Teachers deserve better medical cover, housing, and motivation to serve this country. We'll be back at the table," he added. He further said the career progression policy (CPG) remains intact despite union efforts to have it scrapped. The union is pushing for recognition of teachers who pursue further education through incremental credit awards or special duty allowances. He revealed that the CBA came without a clear budget line in the current fiscal plan, which the Commission raised concerns about sustainability. "We had to settle for this offer because there was no allocation in the budget. We've been promised a supplementary budget, but we'll remain vigilant," said Misori. While the award covers only TSC-employed teachers, the KUPPET Sec-Gen acknowledged that the disparity with private sector educators remains a challenge one that he hopes will be addressed in future national policy.

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What new TSC-KUPPET deal means for Kenya's education future

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