The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has strongly urged the government to reconsider the current mandatory retirement age of 60 years, arguing that experienced educators should be allowed to continue serving until they reach 65.
KUPPET has also opposed a proposed training fee of Ksh10,500 for teachers who will serve as examiners for the upcoming Grade 9 national examinations.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, KUPPET Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to initiate discussions on reviewing the retirement policy.
According to Nthurima, many teachers nearing retirement still possess invaluable knowledge and experience that could continue benefiting Kenya’s education sector.
He emphasized that enforcing a strict retirement age of 60 deprives the country of skilled and well-trained educators who could mentor younger teachers and improve the overall quality of education.
This renewed push comes after a contentious meeting three months ago, where KUPPET leaders sought to extend the retirement age for its officials to 65 years.
However, the government has remained firm in its stance, with President William Ruto issuing a directive in July last year that all public servants must retire at 60, with no exceptions or extensions.
“There will be no extension of tenures of public servants who are 60,” Ruto stated at the time, making it clear that the policy would be enforced without compromise.
Despite the government’s rigid position, KUPPET insists that allowing teachers to work until 65 will help address the country’s chronic teacher shortage and improve mentorship in schools.
The union argues that in many cases, teachers at the peak of their careers are being forced into retirement when they still have the capacity to offer meaningful contributions to the education sector.
Beyond the retirement age debate, KUPPET has also rejected a proposal by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) requiring teachers who will examine the kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) to pay a Ksh10,500 training fee.
Nthurima, who led the opposition against the proposed fee, stated that it is unfair to require teachers to pay for a mandatory training program that directly benefits the government and the education system.
He argued that the government should take full responsibility for financing the training of teachers who will be assessing students under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
KUPPET maintains that teachers already face significant financial burdens, including low salaries and increasing living costs. Imposing an additional training fee would discourage teachers from participating in the examination process and could ultimately affect the quality of assessment for Grade 9 students.
The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) is a crucial part of the CBC, designed to evaluate learners’ competencies at the end of Grade 9.
This assessment marks the completion of junior secondary education, replacing the former Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) system.
According to KNEC, the KJSEA exams are scheduled to begin in October. The practical exams will take place from October 27 to October 31, while the theory exams will start on November 3 with English and Chemistry, concluding on November 21.
Additionally, mid-year project-based assessments for subjects such as Creative Arts & Sports will run from May to July, while Pre-Technical Studies will be assessed in July.
With the first cohort of junior secondary students set to take these exams, KUPPET insists that the government must ensure a fair and well-organized assessment process.
The union argues that forcing teachers to pay for training undermines the smooth implementation of the CBC and places unnecessary financial strain on educators.
As tensions between KUPPET and the government continue to rise, the union has vowed to push for policy changes that will safeguard the interests of teachers and improve the country’s education system. Whether the government will yield to KUPPET’s demands remains to be seen, but for now, the debate over retirement age and training fees is far from over.
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