“KNUT Boss Hails Teacher Recruitment but Slams Govt Over Stalled CBA”
“Teachers have really suffered, especially during these tough economic times. It is unfortunate that many of them have stagnated in one job group for years without any meaningful promotions,”
By Jessica Nyaboke
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General, Collins Oyuu, has welcomed the government’s commitment to employ more than 24,000 teachers in the current financial year, terming it a major relief for thousands of jobless graduates from teacher training colleges.
“This announcement is a big relief. Many of our young teachers have been jobless for years after graduating. At least, this will provide hope and opportunities for them,” Oyuu said.
Speaking during KNUT’s Annual General Meeting in Eldoret West, Oyuu at the same time criticized the government for failing to implement the teachers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), four years after it was signed.
“Teachers have really suffered, especially during these tough economic times. It is unfortunate that many of them have stagnated in one job group for years without any meaningful promotions,” he noted.
Oyuu emphasized that promotions should be based on merit as provided for in the education code, not on corruption or favoritism.
“A spot check by the media has revealed that some teachers have secured employment through the back door. This is very demoralizing to those who have tarmacked for years without success,” he added, citing the example of a graduate teacher who remains unemployed at the age of 46.
On the issue of medical cover, Oyuu confirmed that teachers will continue to be served by Minet Insurance and not the State-backed Social Health Authority (SHA), which he said has failed to take off effectively.
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