The Kenya Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has raised an alarm over the Ksh 0.3 million allocated to Chief Principals outside the child-bearing bracket for maternity allowance annually.
Through the Trans Nzoia branch, SHA has been put to task to explain to the teachers why the money was being allocated to the principals and other senior cadres of principals who had surpassed the age of the ability to bear children.
In a statement released in Kitale, branch Executive Secretary Furaha Lusweti and chairman Eliud Wafula said elderly school heads who cannot sire are allocated the allowances while knowing that the money will not be utilized adding that their “active” fellow teachers within the job groups of C1, C2,C3 and C4 were being advance a “pittance”
They proposed that Principals whose contributions for maternity services cannot be used be transferred to other accounts to cover for other ailments rather than wholly being retained by the scheme owners.
“The scheme owners know that the money will never be used. What is the rationale of deducting the money that will not befit one in her life time?” the duo asked.
They also raised concern on the viability of the scheme, saying that a family involved in accident cannot benefit from the scheme that allows only for a single surgery for a family member.
At the same time, a case was being mentioned of a teacher who was admitted on the eve of change of the insurer on December 30th for maternity services and before the official time of transfer, the hospital had already demanding for her discharge.
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Saying the crystal aim for the change of ownership of the medical was to stabilize SHA and not for improved medication, the Trans Nzoia KUPPET doubted if the teachers will receive commensurate services considering that the teachers were never consulted before formalization of the transfer.
The statement read in part: “Though today we are feeling this setback, we have faced injustices before and won. Your union is alert, prepared and fully committed to defend the welfare, dignity and right of every teacher. We shall fight again if SHA fails our members.
It added: “This imposed system will either rise to the required standards or face firm resistance. We shall not allow teachers to suffer silently or be reduced to second-hand class citizens in healthcare.
The Trans Nzoia KUPPET officials asked their members not to sit back but stay vigilant and united.
They described the whole process of transfer as an insult to a national workforce that carries the burden the country’s core education system to the next generation by limiting them to dispensaries, health centers, Level 4 and Level 5 county hospitals for treatment.
“All this imply a teacher cannot access treatment from Level 6 Referral hospitals. This is the serious down-grading a teacher can be subjected to. Hope is not lost. Don’t despair, we steady-first to hit back”, the statement added.
BY ABISAI AMUGUNE
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