- KUPPET and KNUT officials proposed reforms during public hearings on education laws, covering teacher pay, JSS management and capitation.
- KUPPET Kericho ES Clara Chebet demanded clear timelines for exam duty payments, JSS autonomy and more capitation for lower primary.
- Chebet wants Directors of Education to chair county education committees, while KNUT’s Samson Chepkwony called for separate school committees and timely books.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers and the Kenya National Union of Teachers have proposed a raft of changes to the education system.
This comes as public hearings on proposed reforms to education laws continue across the country.
KUPPET Flags Delayed Pay, JSS Domiciling
KUPPET Kericho branch Executive Secretary Clara Chebet said the proposed reforms should address challenges affecting teachers, including delayed payments for official duties, the management of Junior Secondary Schools and inadequate capitation.
Chebet said teachers who participate in examination supervision and other official assignments had been waiting for long periods to receive payment.
She said the delays, coupled with the expenses teachers incur while performing the duties, were discouraging their participation.
“Teachers have been waiting for a long time to be paid for manning examinations and other official duties. They also spend a lot on fares and other expenses, and this makes it difficult for them to participate,” she said.
Chebet urged lawmakers to clearly define the payment mechanism and timelines in the proposed legislation.
“Teachers should not wait for payment for too long after providing a service. The mode of payment and the timelines should be clearly captured in the law,” she said.
On Junior Secondary Schools, Chebet said the institutions should be given greater autonomy and managed as senior schools.
She said the current arrangement, where JSS is domiciled in primary schools, does not reflect the nature of its curriculum.
“JSS should be autonomous. Although it is domiciled in primary schools, its syllabus belongs to secondary education,” she said.
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Call to Reconstitute County Education Committees
Chebet further proposed that Directors of Education chair county education committees instead of Deputy County Commissioners.
She argued that education directors have professional knowledge of the sector and would therefore be better placed to oversee education matters.
“They understand education matters better and can effectively plan for discipline and the day-to-day running of schools,” she said.
She also called for increased capitation, particularly for lower primary schools, saying schools had for years operated under strained resources.
“The resources in lower primary have been strained for a long time, leading to disputes that can be avoided if adequate capitation is provided,” Chebet said.
Meanwhile, Kipkelion KNUT Vice-Chairperson Samson Chepkwony called for schools to have separate management committees and for learning materials to be supplied on time.
Chepkwony said timely delivery of books and clearer management structures would ease the running of schools.
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“Schools should have separate committees, and books should be supplied on time. This will make the running of schools easier,” he said.
By Kimutai Langat
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