By Staff Reporter
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has encouraged teachers and other field officers to contribute generously towards the fight against COVID-19.
In several short text messages (sms) sent to teachers and seen by Education News, teachers have been told that they have the freedom to either send money through the paybill or check off system.
“TSC is playing its part in the fight against Corona Virus. You can join us by making a voluntary contribution to Paybill No 625625 Account No 01001005707400,” the text states.
However, teachers who wish to contribute through the payroll are encouraged to visit the Commission’s website for further guidance.
“The monies will be channeled to the Kenya COVID -19 Emergency Response Fund,” it further stated.
At first, some teachers thought that the text messages were from scammers only to realize that they were from the Commission.
Though some teachers wary about the exercise, citing low pay, others feel that any contribution will make immense impact.
“If teachers can contribute about Sh50, it will go a long way, noted KNUT Bomet Branch Executive Secretary Malel Lang’at.
There are over 317,000 registered teachers in the payroll and if each contributes a minimum of Sh50 per month, the COVID kitty can be about Sh18m richer.
However, the contributions are voluntary and no teachers will be coerced to contribute towards the fund.
The President and his deputy took a pay cut of 80 per cent. While, Cabinet Secretaries and Chief Administrative Secretaries are to take a voluntary pay cut of 30 per cent.
Principal Secretaries on their part can give away 20 per cent of their salaries to support the fund.
The voluntary salary cuts shall be for an initial three months with effect from April 2020 but that is subject to review based on guidance from the unfolding situation.
While other employees, notably the private sector and staff from two universities are facing a salary cut, teacher unions are set to dig in.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers Education (KUPPET) Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima however says that the unilateral salary cuts have no basis in law.
He stated that the terms and conditions of workers in the public service are negotiated and concluded within the parameters of the Bill of Rights.
Once agreed, workers’ unions and employers sign a Collective Bargaining Agreement, which I then deposited in the industrial court, to give it force of law.
In case the unfolding scenario, he argues that there are a number of issues to be taken into consideration.
“The workers must freely and conscientiously sign any new term of agreement, which must be unequivocal.
The Covid-19, which will pass with time, should not provide cover for unfair labour practices by employers,” he offered.
