The 2026 national examinations could face disruption after the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) threatened to ask teachers to reject examination duties over what it says are inadequate payments.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori said the union has written to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) seeking a review and renegotiation of the rates paid to teachers who undertake examination-related work.
Misori said KUPPET’s main concern is the treatment of teachers involved in examinations administered by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), including centre organisers, examiners and other officials.
He said the union was acting within the constitutional mandate of the SRC, which advises the national and county governments on the remuneration of public officers.
KUPPET Demands New Pay Rates for Teachers Handling 2026 Exams
According to Misori, teachers have for years received rates that do not reflect the nature of the work they perform during national examinations.
“We want to remind the SRC to be on the frontline to safeguard the rights of the teachers or workers who undertake such projects. Imagine a centre organiser, who is a professional, is being paid below what a construction worker is being paid,” Misori said.
He said the concern also extends to examiners who mark examination papers, arguing that the rates paid per script are too low.
Misori said KUPPET had now formally approached SRC to begin discussions on the payments.
“We have now written to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission first, among other things, to ensure that we engage and renegotiate the perks that the teachers are supposed to get,” he said.
The union has warned that failure to review the rates could lead to teachers declining examination duties.
“If it is not done then we shall be asking even the teachers not to undertake the programmes of managing exams,” Misori said.
He said the proposed action would cover examinations administered across different levels, from the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) to the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
The warning comes as schools and examination officials prepare for the 2026 national examination cycle, which is scheduled to begin in October.
Teachers’ Examination Rates Under Scrutiny
Under the current structure, for KCSE, the union says supervisors receive Sh680 per day, while centre managers receive Sh550 and invigilators Sh510.
For KJSEA, the rates cited by the union are Sh4,080 for supervisors, Sh3,300 for centre managers and Sh3,070 for invigilators for seven days.
For KPSEA, supervisors receive Sh2,535, centre managers Sh1,615 and invigilators Sh1,665 for four days.
The union has also raised concerns over the rates paid to examiners, saying the amounts per paper are low compared with the work involved.
KUPPET wants SRC to engage with the relevant authorities and review the rates before teachers take up examination assignments.
The union has also criticized proposed changes to education laws, including the Basic Education Bill 2026.
Misori questioned the process through which the legislation is being developed, arguing that policy should precede legislation.
“The current Education Bill being canvassed is being done outside the established law. It is outside the sector plan, outside a known sessional paper. You cannot legislate before developing policy,” he said.
The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education has been conducting public participation on the proposed education Bills, with the exercise extended to October 2.
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