A fresh dispute is emerging over the union representation of teachers deployed to Junior School (JSS), with the interpretation of existing recognition agreements likely to shape the next phase of the contest between the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET).
At the centre of the dispute is the wording of the recognition agreement between KNUT and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), which defines the union as representing "unionisable primary school teachers."
Those pushing for the exclusion of JSS teachers from KNUT argue that their deployment to Junior School, which forms part of the post-primary education structure, changes the labour relations framework applicable to them.
They contend that the question should be determined by the level at which teachers are serving rather than their previous designation. This raises a fundamental question: are teachers deployed to JSS still primary school teachers, or are they now post-primary teachers?
The argument has also drawn comparisons with KUPPET members who, after advancing their academic qualifications and securing university teaching positions, cease to fall under the union's representation and become eligible for membership of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU).
Proponents of the position say trade union representation is structured around defined sectors and that teachers cannot simultaneously claim representation under different unions where the applicable labour frameworks are distinct.
The disagreement comes amid continuing changes in the education sector following the implementation of the Competency-Based Education system, which has seen thousands of teachers deployed to Junior School.
The deployment has triggered questions over career progression, union membership, remuneration and professional categorisation, with KNUT and KUPPET taking different positions on the status of teachers serving in JSS.
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