JSS teachers fault unions for ignoring their needs

Teachers pose for photo with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna during a luncheon he hosted to celebrate World Teachers Day at a Nairobi hotel. [Okumu Modachi, Standard]

Junior Secondary School teachers have blasted the two major teachers' unions for slighting their welfare needs and are pushing to have an independent union.

The teachers, who spoke during a World Teachers Day luncheon hosted by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, raised welfare concerns, citing poor pay and bad working conditions that have remained unaddressed.

They faulted the rivalry between the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Teachers and the Kenya National Union Teachers in having them as their members, saying the two bodies were not too keen on championing their interests.

"JSS teachers must be independent and we must have our union. We cannot survive on the Sh17,000 we get monthly. It is not even enough to settle rent in Nairobi," said Omari Omari, their national spokesperson.

He further proposed that Nairobi should be considered a hardship area for teachers given the high cost of living in the capital when compared to other areas, a call that Sifuna endorsed.

"We should focus on the state of the teacher, then the student and then we can talk about the state of education in our country. We need to have a broader conversation on the cost of living and the wages needed for someone to survive in Nairobi. There is no way you can compare the cost of a decent house in Nairobi and somewhere in Bungoma," he said.

The Nairobi senator also proposed the representation of teachers at the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to enhance the engagement between teachers and the commission. 

"The Building Bridges Initiative proposed to have teachers represented at the TSC and we in ODM believe that it should be done," said the convener of the luncheon that brought together select primary, secondary and junior secondary schools across Nairobi.

Representatives of Kuppet, and the TSC were also present in the event Sifuna said would be annual.

"I never want to be an embarrassment to any of the people who taught me... I always want to make my teachers proud.

Embakasi West Member of Parliament Mark Mwenje faulted the planned recruitment of 46,000 teachers at the sub-counties, saying the formula disenfranchised Nairobi County.

"A sub-county like Embakasi has four constituencies and they have a joint 12 slots. Others like Kibra have 12 and Njiru 11. Constituencies in Nairobi should be treated as sub-counties to ensure fairness," said Mwenje. 

Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi hailed the efforts by teachers in shaping professionals across all sectors.

"Everyone has passed through the hands of a teacher. They mould us into the people we become... and we will support any initiative that improves your welfare and brings money to your pocket," said Wanyonyi.