Is a Junior Secondary School (JSS) teacher supposed to be a member of the KUPPET or KNUT? Or can he or she be a dual member of these teacher trade unions? Or still, can the JSS teacher remain non-unionisable?
These and other questions are emerging as the newly-recruited JSS teachers settle down for the permanent jobs in the elevated Comprehensive Learning Institutions to teach in the Grade 7,8,and 9 classes within the primary schools.
According to the regulations of the MoE, the monthly subscription of a teacher in a public school to a labour union is automatically deducted from the payroll once they voluntarily join a recognised teachers’ union.
Currently, KNUT has more members from primary schools as well as secondary schools and is the largest union representing the teaching fraternity while KUPPET has restricted members as secondary school teachers.
ALSO READ:
MPs grill former Karatina VC over Ksh 1.8M transport allowance, gratuity payout
KUPPET split from KNUT more than 20 years ago when the latter was overwhelmed with matters affecting primary school teachers, leaving out the secondary counterparts defenseless.
The posting of the Degree and Diploma JSS teachers to the institutions has already sparked off rivalry with the heads of the stations mandated to manage both the primary and junior sections.
This emerged as the JSS staff has begun receiving disciplinary actions from the Heads of the Institutions (HOIs) for various reasons ranging from insubordination, non-performance, arrogance, absenteeism and general ethical misconduct.
As a result of these tensions and ongoing confusion within the system, numerous JSS teachers across the country have received show-cause letters.
The JSS tutors are also reported to be in stiff competition with their counterparts in the lower primary section with the aim of replacing them as the Heads of Departments (HoDs) owing to their senior qualifications in academics.
In secondary schools, the MoE has put in place arrangements of retooling the teachers who will handle the first batch of Grade 10 students as well as preparing the Heads of Institutions (HOIs) and the JSS tutors for their new roles in Junior Secondary School learning.
ALSO READ:
Government launches office of Data Protection Commissioner in Nyeri
But confusion is growing in the primary schools and comprehensive institutions as the lower primary teachers and the JSS tutors have been earmarked to teach the same subjects and classes.
While some of the lower primary teachers had climbed the ladder to attain degrees, their JSS counterparts were subjected to less allowances and salaries but tasked with the same workload.
There is also the tendency of the HOIs giving preference and priority to the primary teachers, fanning more confusion and differences between the two groups of the teaching staff.
Primary schools head teachers were promoted to the comprehensive sections after undergoing training including how to accommodate the JSS teachers in their respective management. The recent induction was conducted by KIME where the head teachers were taken through the prudent management of the capitation fees.
ABISAI AMUGUNE IN KITALE
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
