Teachers Want More Allowances Ahead Of KCSE Exams

Teachers have issued a new demand for increased allowances to supervise the upcoming Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, which are scheduled to begin on October 22, 2024.

Through the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), the teachers demand a staggering increase of 600 to 800 percent in their out-of-workstation allowances.

According to the letter sent to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori, proposed raising the daily rate for invigilators to Kes. 3,000 per day for invigilators up from the current Kes. 400 per day, representing a 750 percent increase.

KUPPET also wants supervisors to be paid a daily compensation of 3,500 shillings, significantly up from their current rate of Kes. 450 shillings. Additionally, they also want principals to be paid 4,500 shillings per day, who act as examination center managers during the exam period.

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Currently, the principals are paid 500 shillings per day, this figure signifies a 900 percent increase. According to Misori, their members would reject the existing remuneration structure during the upcoming examinations.

The union urged the Cabinet Secretary, responsible for the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) budget, to ensure the council compensates teachers in line with the Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual for the Public Service, which serves as the government’s benchmark.

He added that such inadequate compensation undermines Kenya’s standards for fair labor practices and adversely affects the morale of teachers, ultimately threatening the credibility of national examinations.

“Our members have vowed to reject the current remuneration structure during the upcoming examinations. As the Cabinet Secretary in charge of the Kenya National Examination’s Council (KNEC) budget, we urge you to assist the council in compensating teachers as provided under the Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual for the Public Service, which is the applicable benchmark across the government,” Kuppet Secretary-General Akello Misori said in the letter.

“This level of remuneration for exam managers and examiners is grossly unsatisfactory, falls short of Kenya’s standards for fair labor practice, and contributes greatly to the low morale in the teaching service. It also negatively impacts the credibility of national examinations,” he said.

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