Economy

Teachers hold talks with TSC today to avert strike

sossion

Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Teachers will Thursday start talks with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to avert a strike planned to start on Monday when schools open for third term.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) will hold talks with TSC Thursday while Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), Kenya Secondary School Heads Association(Kessha) and Kenya Primary School Heads Association will have their meeting Friday.

The agenda will be performance appraisal for 312,060 teachers and contracting for heads of schools.

“We will share our concerns with the TSC on performance appraisal and contracting,” said Kessha chairman Kahi Indimuli.

The teachers have been pushing for annual and not quarterly appraisal, saying the process is time consuming and has led to tutors spending a lot of time in cyber cafes filling forms.

Knut wants promotion of more than 30,000 teachers who have attainment higher academic qualifications as well as a review of performance appraisal and delocalisation of headteachers.

READ: Teachers promotions won't be based on new degrees

The meeting comes a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta intervened and directed that the delocalisation policy be reviewed. The TSC also agreed to review performance appraisal for the tutors following an outcry.

Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion has made several demands that the union wants implemented.

“Reference is made to various circulars and policy papers and guidelines which have variously been issued and implemented by the commission on the teaching fraternity. Whereas the union is in support of some of the policies and guidelines, the commission has issued and implemented them without consultation with the union and other stakeholders,” said Mr Sossion in a letter to TSC chief executive Nancy Macharia dated August 7.

According to Mr Sossion, unilateral actions by the commission have negatively affected good policies.