Stop Putting Pressure on Teachers, KUPPET

Bungoma County KUPPET Chairman David Barasa has urged the government to stop putting pressure on teachers for TPD registration as they are still handling the schools unrest recently experienced.

Barasa directed his remarks to TSC boss, Nancy Macharia, and CS Prof. George Magoha over what he termed as teachers being subjected to too much paperwork.

He added that some schools have a large number of students and this requires more time to fully interact with students at closer levels.

“Covid-19 changed education calendar in the country, the Ministry has initiated some programs that need sacrifice. Filing of TPAD, NEMIS, and other records are costing teachers. The ministry of education should liaise with TSC and provide social support to teachers for the better future of our country”, said Barasa.

“It is like CS Magoha is in a fistfight with teachers, he must listen and consult with other education stakeholders before he decides but if teachers continue working in such an environment, then the education system will be left in ruins,” he added.

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Teachers have been under pressure to register for the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) Programme which aims at equipping tutors with appropriate skills for implementation of the competency-based curriculum (CBC).

The three-year program which is set to commence in December 2021 will aid in boosting the implementation of CBC in schools according to TSC.

The TPD program that will be the basis of teachers’ promotions and professional growth will require teachers to pay 6,000 shillings yearly for 30 years.

In September 2021, KUPPET stated that educators are facing several challenges including Covid-19 and struggling with the Competency-Based Curriculum.

In addition, it added that the recently signed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) did not include any monetary value. KUPPET noted that it is the responsibility of employers, whenever they want to train employees, to undertake the payment of such a duty.

So far only 20, 000 teachers have applied for the program according to the Basic Education Chief Administrative Secretary Sarah Ruto.