Knut wants dismissed teachers to receive their benefits.

Knut wants dismissed teachers to receive their benefits.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) is requesting that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) eliminate a rule that bars interdicted and dismissed teachers from accessing their benefits.

Knut Secretary-General Collins Oyuu states that the union will advocate for TSC to abolish the rule to guarantee that dismissed teachers receive their entitlements.

The union is also advocating for teachers to obtain additional benefits for their services. Mr. Oyuu expressed that employee retirement benefits should not depend on their conduct.

While addressing members at Kibaoni Primary School, he remarked that an employee’s conduct should not influence their benefits when they leave service.

“If you make an error and you have been interdicted and dismissed, the TSC Act and the Code of Regulations for Teachers stipulate that you cannot receive any payment. You will simply go home,” stated Mr. Oyuu.

“In our union’s proposal, if you are dismissed for any reason, your conduct should not affect your benefits. Whether you have committed a serious crime or any case… the truth is you served TSC for numerous years,” asserted the secretary-general.

He mentioned that TSC should compensate dismissed teachers for the duration of their service.

Simultaneously, he called on the National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee to allocate increased funds to TSC for promotions and the hiring of more teachers. Mr. Oyuu advised teachers in grades C2 and C3 who are acting as head teachers or deputies not to anticipate promotions under the existing structure.

“Some of our acting head teachers were not interviewed by TSC. If a teacher does not meet the necessary grade to act and be selected for an interview for administrative promotions… those in C2 and C3 should forget about promotions; your time is being squandered. Just teach, cease acting,” he commented during a meeting with union officials in Kilifi.

The union representative mentioned that some teachers have received letters from TSC to act as head teachers or their deputies but are not called for promotions whenever interviews are announced. “They will inform you no because your grade is not yet sufficient. Be courageous. If your grade does not qualify you for an interview for the position you are acting in, return those letters and continue teaching. Don’t let yourself be deceived,” he advised.

“When you are acting and you do not meet the qualifications for an interview, you will remain frustrated. There are many teachers capable of acting who are not in those acting roles. Let TSC select teachers who can qualify for those interviews for administrative promotions. Do not occupy those positions for mere appearances; you will be disheartened when the time comes,” concluded Mr. Oyuu.