The Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET) has received 39550 new members from junior schools around the nation, bringing joy and enthusiasm to the union. Education News has established that Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has deducted KSh890 from Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) teachers’ salaries as union dues for KUPPET.
Recently, Education News reported that the teachers requested the commission to expedite their placement as either KUPPET or Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) members.
The teachers were eager to begin the process of securing leadership positions to revive what they believe are inactive union officials.
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“It is true, I am officially a member of KUPPET as per my February payslip,” admitted one of the JSS teachers in Nandi County.
This new development has energised KUPPET, which has been seeking increased representation since the establishment of junior schools in 2023.
KUPPET has consistently advocated for the rights and welfare of this group of teachers and has previously urged the government to classify junior schools under the secondary education sector—a proposal that was thwarted during stakeholder engagements.
It is expected that the ongoing tensions between JSS and their supervisors will escalate as the teachers may begin to feel a sense of superiority due to their new union membership.
Education news has learned that the majority of primary school teachers are members of KNUT. The distinction in representation for JSS teachers is becoming clearer, and many educators are hopeful for the establishment of a separate administrative component for junior schools.
Many believe this is the best way to resolve the ongoing conflicts between headteachers and teachers.
By Kaptich Tarus
