The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has successfully negotiated an end to the industrial action initiated by members of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) on June 26, 2024.
The agreement, reached after day-long bi-partite negotiations on September 2, 2024, paves the way for an immediate return to work for striking teachers.
TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Njeri Macharia announced the breakthrough, stating, “We are happy to report to the nation that we have reached an amicable settlement, which will enable our teachers to resume duty immediately.”
The resolution comes after the Kenyan government released funds for the implementation of the second phase of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) 2021-2025, effective from July 1, 2024. This phase was paid in August 2024, including arrears, as confirmed by the TSC.
“The Government has successfully implemented all the provisions of the 2021-2025 CBA with the teacher unions,” Macharia said, emphasizing the fulfillment of the agreement’s terms.
The negotiations addressed several key issues raised by KUPPET. A review of the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme is set to commence once KUPPET submits its proposals. Regarding teacher promotion, the TSC said it has already promoted 51,232 teachers under competitive promotions and pledged to continue promotions as budgetary allocations become available.
Improvements have also been made to the Teachers’ Medical Scheme, allowing teachers access to both public and private hospitals. Additionally, the government has committed to the retooling of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers to facilitate the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The TSC also confirmed that no teacher would face victimization for participating in the industrial action, addressing a common concern during labor disputes.
