The Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) has gained popularity among the teaching fraternity for agitating aggressively for the interests of teachers serving children with disabilities in public schools.
Teachers unions have the sole mission of fighting for the welfare of its members who are majorly drawn from the teaching force. The learners and students affairs are majorly the concerns of the Ministry of Education and to some extent the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). In Kenya, teachers unions continue to evolve depending on the category of the teachers and their unique demands.
To date, KNUT, KUPPET and KUSNET are the main teachers unions registered with the registrar of trade unions. With the coming up of the CBC system of education, the idea of junior schools was birthed. It’s teachers are neither in primary nor senior school. Though, they are domiciled in primary school, their interests seem to sway to senior school this finding KUPPET more accommodative to them than Knut.
KUSNET membership is mainly drawn from teachers teaching in special schools both in primary, JSS and secondary schools. Despite being a new kid in trade union movement, KUSNET is receiving incessant praises and accolades from the membership of both KUPPET and KNUT on how it is hitting ground agitating for its members.
Some of KNUT and KUPPET branch officials who spoke to Education News on condition of anonymity could not hide the tremendous scores KUSNET achieved this year.
“Imagine they championed for appointment of 296 Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs) SNE across the country apart from agitating for deployment of 6000 teachers with SNE training to special schools and units”, said a Knut official.
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Both KUPPET and KNUT officials interviewed commended KUSNET for going ahead of them in crafting the 2025-2029 CBA for its members and forwarding it to TSC. They also envied positively the ongoing consultative forums KUSNET is holding with various stakeholders across the country. The latest consultative forum was held over the weekend at Eldoret City. It brought on board Cso SNE from 12 counties in Kenya.
The sister officials commended KUSNET Secretary General Mr James Torome on how he steers the union in achieving its core mandate. KUSNET, according to one of it’s officials, is in the process of sensitizing the key stakeholders on CBC and how to address gaps in the SNE sector.
By our reporter.
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