- KUPPET has warned that teachers could withdraw from KNEC examination duties unless their grievances over pay, welfare and working conditions are addressed.
- The union has raised concerns over delayed examination payments and demanding working conditions faced by centre managers, supervisors, invigilators and examiners.
- KUPPET has called for a structured forum involving the government, KNEC, the Ministry of Education and the SRC to resolve the dispute before it escalates.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori has warned that teachers could withdraw their services from Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) duties unless the government and relevant institutions address concerns over their treatment, remuneration, working conditions and welfare.
Misori said teachers cannot continue shouldering demanding examination duties while their grievances remain unresolved, calling for the government, KNEC and other relevant institutions to sit down with teachers and agree on conditions that recognise the responsibilities placed on examination personnel.
Teachers serve as the backbone of Kenya’s national examination system. Every year, thousands take on roles as centre managers, supervisors, invigilators and examiners, taking responsibility for confidential materials, candidates, examination procedures and strict reporting requirements.
KUPPET said some of its members have endured experiences during examination assignments that were traumatic and exhausting, describing conditions that, in the union’s view, bordered on violations of workers’ rights. The union’s concerns extend beyond examination allowances to cover the conditions under which teachers are deployed, working hours, logistical arrangements, welfare, security and how they are treated while performing national duties.
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The dispute has also been aggravated by concerns over delayed examination payments, with teachers previously complaining about waiting for money owed for examination-related duties.
KUPPET is calling for the government, KNEC, the Ministry of Education, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and teachers’ unions to establish a structured forum to address the grievances comprehensively. The union wants the discussions to cover examination allowances and timely payment, as well as reporting times, working hours, deployment, transport, accommodation, security, welfare, communication, treatment of personnel and clear mechanisms for resolving complaints arising during examination assignments.
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The warning comes as national examinations remain a sensitive undertaking requiring strict confidentiality, discipline and accountability from the teachers who administer them. KUPPET maintains that protecting examination integrity and protecting teachers’ welfare should not be treated as competing priorities, but as complementary objectives that require joint attention from all parties involved.
The union has urged the government and KNEC not to wait for a withdrawal of services or an operational crisis before addressing the concerns raised by examination personnel.
By Hillary Muhalya
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