KUPPET Nyamira has forwarded a number of proposals they feel the teacher employer TSC should consider in its final draft of the TSC (Amendment) Bill, 2024, top among them being the deletion of the clause requiring teachers to have a practising certificate.
In their submission dated February 15, 2024 by their Assistant Executive Secretary Ayieko George Mogaka, the union wants the commission to remove from the Bill the provision requiring teachers to acquire a practising certificate as the teacher registration certificate is enough.
They argue that the practising certificate is simply an unnecessary duplication.
On the other hand, the branch has opposed the removal of the consultative committee, which is established by the Principal Act (TSC Act, 2012) on the terms and conditions of service of registered teachers, stating that it should be retained as it is in the original Act.
According to them, the provision allows the commission to negotiate with trade unions representing teachers and other major stakeholders in the education sector, including government.
Section 13 sub-sections 5-7 of the Principal Act – which the Bill proposes to delete – establishes the consultative committee on terms and conditions of service of registered teachers.
The branch has further opposed the commission’s move of incorporating into the Bill the Continuous Professional Development (CPD), arguing that the pre-service training for teachers in Kenya is of very high quality and standards that the proposed amorphous CPD is unnecessary.
They pointed out that what is needed is a clear policy framework that will guide teachers in public service advance their academic qualifications and research at Masters and Doctoral (PhD) levels.
Further, the branch suggests that the commission should amend the 2017 career progression guidelines (CPG) by deleting grades C4 and C5 from the CPG so that a teacher at grade C3 will competitively be promoted to D1, thus easing career progression.
They also want a delink of promotion from category of school one is posted to, allow classroom teachers to rise in the career ladder up to grade D6 (do away with administrator vs. classroom teacher dichotomy when it comes to promotion above C3), and the commission to develop a scheme of service for postgraduate teachers with relevant masters and PhD degrees as a way retaining highly qualified staff.
They also want the current negative perception that administrative positions are the preserve of senior members of the teaching profession preparing for retirement addressed, as well as ensuring that no teacher is denied promotion based on the category of school in which they are teaching.
A detailed presentation of their proposals will be contained in our print version that will be available next week.
By Education News reporter
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