By Akello Misori
For the second year running, Kenyans mark the International Day of Workers (Labour Day) without a national event. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt national life, our teachers, students, and all workers are paying a heavy price.
Whereas Kenya has thus far been spared of the high death toll witnessed in other countries, the disease has wrecked damage on the national economy, affecting millions of livelihoods. Since the beginning of the pandemic, KUPPET has supported government efforts to flatten the curve.
The Union participated in the education sector committee advising the Cabinet Secretary on measures to limit the pandemic’s impact on schools and to better prepare for the resumption of learning activities.
We mobilized our membership behind the scientifically proven interventions to ensure the success of the initiatives and safety of all Kenyans, including those in school communities
The union appreciates the government’s efforts tfo fight this disease. These include the provision of new health infrastructure and services, work-from-home programs for non-essential or vulnerable public officers, public awareness campaigns, and efforts to ramp up vaccination for essential workers and teachers despite clear-cut constraints.
Concurrent with negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for 2021-2026 with the Teachers Service Commission, we have counselled fundamental reforms for post-COVID-19 education delivery in Kenya.
At our retreat with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in March, the parties agreed that the CBA process will be concluded within this month of May, to ensure a seamless transition from the 2017-2021 CBA to the new one.
The new Competency-Based Curriculum, whose implementation will start in secondary schools in three years, will stretch beyond the limits of current staff establishment and infrastructure in schools.
The policy on 100 percent transition to secondary schools and the new class establishment had revealed a teacher shortage of 97,000 before the pandemic.
The union appreciates the government’s efforts to fight this disease. These include the provision of new health infrastructure and services, work-from-home programs for non-essential or vulnerable public officers, public awareness campaigns, and efforts to ramp up vaccination for essential workers and teachers despite clear-cut constraints.
Concurrent with negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for 2021-2026 with the Teachers Service Commission, we have counselled fundamental reforms for post-COVID-19 education delivery in Kenya.
At our retreat with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in March, the parties agreed that the CBA process will be concluded within this month of May, to ensure a seamless transition from the 2017-2021 CBA to the new one.
The new Competency-Based Curriculum, whose implementation will start in secondary schools in three years, will stretch beyond the limits of current staff establishment and infrastructure in schools.
The policy on 100 percent transition to secondary schools and the new class establishment had revealed a teacher shortage of 97,000 before the pandemic.
