The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced that it has received funds to fully implement the second phase of the amended 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed with teacher unions.
It therefore implies that the strike that was planned to start next week as schools reopen may not happen if the unions decide to call it off, which is highly likely.
In a statement issued immediately after the meeting with Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) at Kenya School of Government today, the commission confirmed that it is going to implement the CBA in arrears starting July 1, 2024.
“After today’s discussions, the commission is pleased to announce that the government has provided funds for the implementation of the second phase of the CBA with effect from July 1, 2024,” said the Chief Executive Officer Dr Nancy Macharia in the statement.
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The commission also stated that it had resolved a number of issues which had been raised by the unions which include the Career Progression Guideline (CPG), saying they are currently ongoing, plus third party deductions that were said to be up to date.
The commission also noted that the teachers can now access both public and private hospitals under the teachers’ medical scheme with the government providing resources for retooling of teachers for the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
According to Dr Macharia in the statement, the commission has promoted 51,232 teachers under competitive promotions and a further 20,000 annually on common cadre.
“The unions have noted the TSC position and agreed to consult their internal organs with a view to withdrawing the strike notice. We, therefore, wish to thank the unions for engaging the commission to ensure non-disruption of learning in schools during the third term, 2024,” said Dr Macharia.
“We are therefore beseeching all our teachers to report to schools on Monday for the start of the Third Term now that the government has released funds for the implementation of the second phase of the 2021-2025 CBA,” she added.
Speaking to Education News this evening, KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu said that the initial strike notice which was issued by the union is still in force until the union National Executive Council (NEC) meets to give way forward.
“TSC only addressed one issue…other pertinent issues were not addressed. We must also consult our members and the National Executive Council (NEC) before we make any pronouncement,” said Oyuu.
By Roy Hezron
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