Written By Lisa Murimi
Tensions are rising just weeks before the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, as teachers threaten action over an unresolved pay dispute.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is facing unrest from educators demanding higher allowances for invigilating, supervising, and marking exams.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has been leading the call for better compensation, requesting daily rates of Ksh3,000 for invigilators, Ksh3,500 for supervisors, and Ksh4,500 for principals, compared to the current Ksh400 to Ksh500.
Despite submitting a formal request to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba in September, the government has remained silent.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori criticised the government for not addressing the issue.
“They’ve only called teachers for briefings, not discussions on allowances,” he said.
Teachers are growing increasingly impatient, with unions threatening potential industrial action if demands are not met.
KNEC, already stretched financially with a Ksh 5 billion budget, faces further challenges as the number of registered candidates has increased to 965,501 across 10,755 centres.
The exams are scheduled from October 28 to November 22, 2024, and KNEC has warned against misinformation circulating online, urging Kenyans to check official sources for accurate exam schedules.
