Teachers' promotion advocacy by Kuppet: Push for the advancement of 130,000 teaching professionals by Kuppet.
Teachers' Union Calls for Automatic Promotions in Kenya's Education Sector
In a bid to address the long-standing issue of teacher stagnation, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has proposed a promotion framework similar to that of the National Police Service (NPS). This comes after teachers have been stuck in the same job groups for over a decade, despite meeting promotion requirements.
According to KUPPET, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has failed to promote educators adequately, forcing them to continue competing for promotions through advertised vacancies and interviews. This situation is seen as unfair and demoralizing, especially considering the dedication and hard work teachers put into their jobs.
The new arrangement in the NPS will see police officers promoted automatically without the declaration of vacancies or the need for interviews, if they have been in one grade for at least 10 years or are over the age of 50. This move has been praised by KUPPET as a positive example, and they urge a similar system for long-serving teachers to recognise their dedicated service and improve motivation.
Under the proposed promotion timeline, interviews would only be required from C4 to C5 and beyond. For instance, teachers in job group C3 should move to C4 after three years without needing an interview. This structured approach aims to fast-track promotions and address teacher shortages, while also ensuring quality education.
The union argues that the failure to promote teachers is hurting education quality, especially at a time when the country is transitioning to a new curriculum. They also highlight that about 130,000 teachers remain stuck in the same job groups, which demoralizes teachers and adversely affects education quality.
KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori stated that teachers are being discriminated against by the same government. He also pointed out that many teachers have upgraded their skills through personal investment in higher education and training, efforts that have gone unrecognised.
The promotions in the NPS will be coupled with advanced training and professional development, a practice that KUPPET advocates for in the education sector. They call for government funding to support these reforms and improve the overall welfare of teachers.
The Teachers Union KUPPET has accused the TSC of neglecting thousands of teachers who have stagnated in the same job groups for over a decade. They also accuse the commission of paying lip service to teachers' welfare. If teachers are still in the same position by 2025, it means they have stagnated, according to Akelo Misori.
The policy, sanctioned by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, will see officers promoted without the declaration of vacancies or the need for interviews in the NPS. KUPPET hopes that a similar policy will be implemented in the education sector to recognise the hard work and dedication of teachers and improve the overall quality of education in Kenya.
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