Why teachers' promotions is a sticky issue for employer, unions

Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori (center seated) addresses the Press after the National Executive Council meeting in Nairobi on September 1, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The criteria of promoting teachers remains a sticky issue for both unions and the employer even as tutors’ troop back to class.

The Standard has established that Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) are united in rejecting the method used by the employer to promote teachers.

The unions have opposed the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), arguing that it has led to stagnation of many teachers for years.

The CPG has in the past been subject of a court case between Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Knut where labour court Judge Byram Ongaya set it aside after it was introduced by TSC to guide promotions.

Unions declined the CPG guidelines and demanded that promotions be based on merit, seniority, vacancies, academic and professional qualifications.

 TSC recently unveiled Automatic Promotions Policy, aimed at tackling the issue of job stagnation among teachers and fostering professional growth within the education sector.

But Kuppet Chairman Omboko Milemba argued that automatic promotions might limit opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

“There are concerns that this move could undermine traditional career pathways that some teachers value. However, we must also consider that this policy is designed to provide stability and recognition for those committed to the profession,” said Milemba.

Milemba who is also MP for Emuhaya raised concerns about the implications of the new policy on continuous professional development.

“The TSC’s plan to reintroduce CPG through legislative changes is troubling. It introduces a model where teachers would need to renew their practicing certificates annually, similar to lawyers and doctors, which could impose additional costs,” he said.

In September 2021, TSC introduced the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme, an initiative poised to reshape the teaching landscape.

This programme mandates that all public-school teachers participate in ongoing refresher courses, significantly impacting their careers and professional growth.

The TPD programme is integral to the TSC’s Career Progression Guidelines, which outline the requirements for teacher promotions.

According to the CPG, "Teachers are required to engage in a professional development programme to enhance their career progression as specified in Regulation 48 of the Code of Regulations for Teachers."

The TPD programme consists of six tiers of competency, each lasting five years. Teachers are expected to complete these modules throughout their professional careers.

At the end of each tier, teachers must renew their teaching certificates to remain in good standing.

Failure to comply with the renewal requirements could result in the loss of their teaching certificates.

Unveiling the new method, the Commission said the new policy would revolutionise the teaching profession by offering automatic promotions to all qualified teachers, accompanied by corresponding salary increases.

TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia said, this initiative is designed to boost morale and motivation within the teaching community, addressing long-standing concerns about stagnation in career advancement.

Under the new policy, TSC said teachers will experience automatic promotions based on a comprehensive evaluation that includes official teaching hours, effectiveness in the classroom, and overall expertise.

This approach, Dr Macharia said, aims to ensure a fair and thorough assessment process, promoting a culture of excellence within the profession.

Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu faulted the CPG saying it has caused massive stagnation of teachers in the country. “When we had the Scheme of Service, the pathway to promotion was seamless. However, the CPG has led to stagnation of teachers. If you are not an administrator, deputy head or headteacher, your improvement in terms of salary is quite minimal,” said Oyuu.

According to Oyuu, the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was generated by job evaluations from Salary and Remuneration Commission.

Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori said majority of teachers have retired while serving in the same job group. Kuppet members went on strike for one week with officials arguing that the stagnation of teachers in the same job groups as a critical issue exacerbating the situation.

Dr Macharia, however argues that the new automatic promotions policy will see a structured progression in teachers career path. For example, Dr Macharia explains that a teacher starting at Grade B5, known as Primary Teacher II, will automatically be promoted to Grade C1 after three years of service.

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