Teachers threaten to disrupt national exams due to unpaid dues

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has threatened to disrupt the 2023 national examinations over the alleged failure by the government to pay teachers for their role in last year’s exams.

Knut accused the Kenya Nation Examination Council of delayed payment of supervisors, invigilators and exams makers.

The union Secretary General Collins Oyuu said teachers will not be involved in 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams processes if the payment is not made.

Oyuu said the government promised to pay teachers for the exercise by the end of July but was yet to honour its pledge. “We’ve written several letters to KNEC to pay teachers demanding the payments but our request is not forthcoming. The best thing to do is to withdraw from being involved in 2023 exams,” Oyuu said.

“We were informed the payment was factored in the budget. We have given an ultimatum to Knec not to engage us if the money is not forthcoming,” he added.

Speaking during the union’s annual general meeting in Suba branch in Homa Bay County, the unionist said teachers are also expect the government to address other welfare issues, among them compensation of teachers after interdiction.

Knut wants all teachers who are interdicted to be compensated and the funds to be determined by the number of years the affected teacher was on duty.

Oyuu said a lot of teachers have been interdicted for different mistakes.

He expressed concern that some have been fired from their jobs when they are about to retire. “Some left work when they are 50 years old. It means they missed out on their retirement benefits,” the unionist said.

Knut wants all teachers who are interdicted to be compensated and the funds to be determined by the number of years the affected teacher was on duty