Teachers' unions break ranks on delocalisation policy

The Kenya Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) on Thursday threw its weight behind massive transfer of teachers, breaking ranks with their Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) colleagues.

Kuppet secretary-general Akello Misori said the union will not engage the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) on the delocalisation policy.

“Kuppet has no problem with teachers being transferred to other counties because the contract we signed allows a teacher to teach anywhere in this country,” Mr Misori said.

Last month, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered that the policy be shelved following an uproar from teachers that it was breaking up families.

Knut has been demanding for the reversal of all transfers effected, terming them illegal.

The move creates a rift between the two agencies ahead of a five-day meeting next week.

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But according to Knut secretary-general Wilson Sossion, teachers should teach in their native counties. The union has since called for the suspension of the transfers and the performance appraisals.

The TSC introduced the appraisals to address gaps and facilitate career progression.

However, Kuppet said that during their meeting with the TSC, they will be fighting for harmonisation of house and risk allowances.

Mr Misori said teachers have been facing various challenges among them acts of terrorism and attacks by students yet they are not compensated.

“Some teachers are being beaten by students in schools yet they do not have risk allowance,” he said.

On appraisals, Mr Misori said they should not make teachers spend a lot of time out of class. He said they will be discussing with the TSC to ensure that teachers spend minimum time on appraisals.

The TSC has since maintained that teachers should continue with filling the appraisals

When they met last month, TSC and Kuppet officials agreed that transfer and deployment of teachers will be considered on personal basis.