Teachers’ unions now want TSC Field Officers to pay Agency fees

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) field officers who benefit from salary agreements negotiated by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) will soon be required to pay agency fees.

Some union officials have started discussions on this matter, although it has not yet been brought to the attention of higher union authorities for consideration and action.

Union representatives recognize that many field officers, especially Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs), gain from agreements made with the employer without being union members. This topic is generating interest among various union officials.

“It’s true that some TSC field officers benefit from our efforts even though they are not our members. Once teachers are promoted to CSOs, they stop being active union members; however, any agreements we reach with the Commission still benefit them,” explained a union official who wished to remain anonymous due to a lack of authorization to comment on behalf of the union regarding this issue.

Education News has also discovered that in recent collective bargaining agreements, CSOs have reaped the rewards of union negotiations, despite not contributing to the unions.

The Commission has over 1,300 CSOs nationwide, and it has been confirmed that these officers are not part of the Commission’s secretariat staff.

The TSC and teacher unions are currently in discussions aimed at the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

KUPPET, KNUT, and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) have suggested restructuring job groups B5 and C5 to enhance career progression and prevent prolonged stagnation.

The unions also advocate for creating advancement opportunities for classroom teachers without necessitating that they take on administrative roles.

KNUT is pushing for an increased promotion ceiling that would allow primary school heads to advance to job group D5. They argue that this adjustment is essential due to the integrated school structure that includes Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) as well as primary and junior schools.

They are also urging the Commission to provide teachers with leave allowances based on their grades. Special Needs Education (SNE) teachers under KUSNET are opposing what they see as inappropriate job classifications and extended stagnation, which have led some members to transfer to regular schools.

KUSNET’s proposal includes requests for the Commission to grant special allowances to CSOs working in special schools and units.

As the TSC and unions engage in a negotiation process for the new CBA, it will be interesting to see if the upcoming discussions regarding the inclusion of CSOs in paying agency fees will be part of the negotiations.

Here are some key points from the KNUT Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for 2025–2029:

KNUT is advocating for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to eliminate Job Group B5 and replace it with Job Group C1 as the starting grade for primary school teachers. This initiative is in line with KNUT’s policy to enhance the professional standing of primary educators.

Additionally, KNUT is pushing for the automatic advancement of all teachers in Job Group C1 to Job Group C2 under the CBA for July 2025–2029. This proposal aims to improve career development and motivation among teachers.

Another suggestion includes promoting all primary school headteachers overseeing Junior Secondary Schools from Job Group C5 to Job Group D1, recognizing their increased responsibilities.

Moreover, over 10,000 headteachers are seeking a title change to “Principal” to better reflect the comprehensive nature of the schools they lead. This adjustment would more accurately acknowledge their leadership roles within the education system.

These proposals aim to enhance teachers’ welfare, career advancement, and overall recognition in the education sector.