The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has demanded the immediate transfer of more than 20,000 graduate teachers deployed to Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), accusing the rival union of unlawfully retaining members who have expressed their desire to join KUPPET.

The Union has given the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) pressure to fast-track the transition, warning that continued delays have resulted in illegal double deductions of Union membership fees and denied the affected teachers their rightful representation.

Speaking at a Press Conference at KUPPET’s National Headquarters in Nairobi on Tuesday, Secretary General, Akello Misori, said the teachers had effectively transitioned from primary to post-primary education following their deployment to teach the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Junior Secondary Schools.

Misori argued that the teachers, who possess a minimum KCSE grade of C+ and relevant subject specialisations, qualify for representation under KUPPET, adding that their appointment letters designate them as Secondary Teacher II.

He said more than 20,000 graduate teachers had been deployed to JSS over the past three years, but their union membership had not been adjusted to reflect their new professional status.

Misori accused KNUT of frustrating efforts by teachers seeking to transfer their membership, insisting that retaining individuals who have formally expressed their intention to join another union violates labour laws and existing recognition agreements.

He cited recognition agreements signed in November 2019, arguing that the former union has a legal obligation to facilitate the release of teachers who wish to change their union affiliation.

KUPPET demanded that TSC intervene immediately to ensure the teachers are formally discharged from KNUT and allowed to enjoy the full terms and conditions of service applicable to post-primary educators.

National Chairman Omboko Milemba backed the demands, while calling for legislative reforms to address what he described as structural weaknesses in the establishment and administration of Junior Secondary Schools.

Milemba argued that the Constitution recognises distinct levels of education, including early childhood development, primary, secondary and tertiary education, and does not provide for the classification of education institutions as ‘comprehensive’.

He called on Parliament and the Parliamentary Committee on Education to review the classification, saying the current arrangement had created administrative confusion and undermined the professional standing of JSS teachers.

Milemba further described the deployed teachers as a neglected group who had sacrificed their previous leadership positions to address staffing shortages during the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum.

He said some of the affected educators previously served as head teachers and deputy heads in primary schools but were stripped of their administrative responsibilities after being moved to Junior Secondary Schools.

The KUPPET chairman also raised concerns over administrative redeployment errors between 2023 and 2024, which he said had resulted in some teachers losing up to a year of recognised service despite continuing to work for the government.

He pledged to pursue parliamentary amendments aimed at securing administrative autonomy for Junior Secondary Schools and restoring the professional standing of affected teachers.

National Coordinator and Chair of Deployed JSS Teachers Protas Kanake highlighted further challenges, including restrictive transfer policies, stalled career progression and difficult working conditions.

Kanake said deployed teachers are generally required to serve for five years before qualifying for transfers, unless they secure a swap with another teacher teaching a similar subject.

He said the restrictions had separated families across counties, while the requirement for subject-matched transfers was particularly difficult for teachers assigned to multidisciplinary learning areas outside their university specialisations.

He also questioned the career progression framework in JSS, noting that experienced educators who previously held senior administrative positions had been reduced to classroom teaching without clear pathways for professional advancement.

Kanake raised concerns about the working environment in institutions hosting JSS classes, alleging that some primary school administrators conduct official staff engagements in local vernacular languages instead of English or Kiswahili, the prescribed languages of instruction in post-primary education.

The teachers are now demanding full administrative and operational autonomy for Junior Secondary Schools, alongside compensation for 22 teachers who allegedly lost 15 months of employment following administrative directives requiring them to reapply for their positions.

They have also called for the immediate refund of union dues allegedly deducted from their salaries but not remitted to the appropriate union.

Misori and other KUPPET officials warned that the union would pursue legal action against the employer if the grievances are not addressed promptly.

The dispute adds to growing pressure on the government to resolve outstanding administrative, professional and welfare concerns affecting teachers deployed to Junior Secondary Schools as the country continues implementing the Competency-Based Education system.

By Lilian Gichohi