- KUSNET has petitioned President Ruto to intervene after the Treasury has failed to honour its promises to SNE teachers for over a year.
- Torome has accused CS John Mbadi of stalling implementation despite TSC having made the necessary requests.
- President Ruto had earlier pledged a one job-group upgrade and a review of the Sh20,000 disability guiding allowance during a State House meeting with teacher leaders.
The Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) has appealed to President William Ruto to intervene and compel National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi to fast-track promises made to Special Needs Education (SNE) teachers during last year’s “Waalimu na Rais Forum” at State House.
KUSNET Secretary General James Torome said that more than a year after the President pledged a one job-group upgrade and a review of disability allowances for SNE teachers, none of the commitments has been honoured, placing blame squarely on the Treasury rather than the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), their employer.
“SNE teachers were awarded two things during our meeting with the President last year, that is, one job group up and review of Guidance Allowance for teachers with disabilities. To date, nothing has been done. And the frustrations are not with the Commission; the CS Treasury is frustrating the Commission to honour the promises made by the President,” Torome said.
He added that the Commission had already fulfilled its part by forwarding the necessary requests as directed by the President, and accused the Treasury of stalling implementation.
Kenya crowned Overall FEASSSA Games champions after a dominant medal haul
“We are now asking the President to intervene and ask the CS Treasury to facilitate the Commission to honour the Presidential directives since it has taken long. The CS should look for money and ensure the promises are honoured and implemented fully, and stop taking the Commission in circles since the employer has played its part by making the necessary requests as directed by the President,” Torome said.
The promises trace back to a meeting between President Ruto and teacher leadership that brought together up to 10,000 representatives from teacher unions and associations, during which he awarded SNE teachers a one job-group upgrade and directed the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to review the existing disability guiding allowance of Sh20,000.
“They have asked two grades… let me approve one grade first. Let me also ask the Ministry, if Ksh20,000 for the guides was agreed upon a few years ago, sit down, review and see how much we can add so that instead of Ksh20,000, how much does it go to, within the resources that we can budget,” Ruto said at the time.
By Roy Hezron
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
>>> Click here to stay ahead with the latest national news.
