- Teachers in Igembe North have called for better pay, improved working conditions and greater welfare support during a meeting with MP Julius Taitumu at Ntunene Girls Secondary School.
- Taitumu has said about 35,000 teachers are expected to be promoted this year, with Igembe North securing additional promotion slots after concerns were raised over the 2024 exercise.
Teachers in Igembe North have called for improved working conditions, better remuneration and greater attention to their welfare.
The teachers made the appeal during an engagement with Igembe North MP Julius Taitumu at Ntunene Girls Secondary School on Friday.
The meeting brought together members of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), ECDE teachers and retired educators to discuss challenges facing the teaching profession and progress made in the constituency’s education sector.
KUPPET representative Njira Moris urged Taitumu to champion teachers’ concerns in Parliament, particularly the need to give Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) greater autonomy and establish clear leadership and administrative structures.
Moris said proposed education bills should recognise the distinct needs of JSS and provide an appropriate framework for their management.
He also called for improved remuneration and the fast-tracking of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) to ensure teachers’ salaries reflect their growing responsibilities.
KNUT Women Representative Mercy Kiambati urged headteachers to create conducive working environments, saying teachers were valuable human capital who needed support and understanding.
She encouraged teachers to work together in addressing challenges within their workplaces and commended Taitumu for his efforts to improve security in the constituency, which she said had given educators greater confidence to carry out their duties.
Kiambati also urged parents to register children living with disabilities so they can benefit from government programmes and opportunities available to persons with disabilities.
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Taitumu, a former teacher and KNUT leader, said the meeting was intended to allow teachers and leaders to assess the constituency’s education journey and identify areas requiring further attention.
He emphasised the central role teachers play in transforming education and the wider community.
Taitumu said his experience in the teachers’ union influenced his decision to venture into elective politics, despite opposition from some educators who initially disagreed with his move from union leadership to Parliament.
He said he believed becoming an MP would give him a broader platform to advocate for teachers and improve education in Igembe North.
The MP said the national government had made progress in teacher recruitment and promotions, including setting aside billions of shillings for teacher promotions.
According to Taitumu, about 35,000 teachers are expected to be promoted this year, with age and length of service among the factors being considered.
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He said no teacher should retire without getting an opportunity for career progression, adding that Igembe North had secured additional promotion slots after concerns were raised over the 2024 promotions.
Taitumu further said the constituency had benefited from efforts to address teacher shortages through recruitment and the conversion of intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms.
The MP said continued collaboration between education stakeholders and leaders would be necessary to address remaining challenges and improve learning outcomes across Igembe North.
By Obegi Malack
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