Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has proposed additional pay for head teachers stating that the review of the curriculum has given them additional duties and responsibility.
Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu said international labour practices dictate that additional responsibilities and work should attract additional pay and remuneration.
“This we commit to advance as we engage in the 2025/2029 СВA. To succeed here, we are calling for a fresh Job Evaluation that will help us engage positively in the coming CBA negotiation cycle,” he said.
Oyuu made the remarks on Wednesday at the Kenyan Primary School Head Teachers Association (KEPSHA) 21st annual conference in Mombasa.
He asked head teachers to change from KEPSHA to Kenya Comprehensive Schools Heads Association (KECOSHA) “to align yourselves with the obtaining reforms in the education system.”
He further said the government needs to invest more in Digital Learning Programme, with the emphasis being on ICT infrastructure development, enhancement of technology and human resource capacity development.
“With the assured support from Knut and other willing teacher unions, technology in education will succeed,” he added.
He said the union has been keen on ensuring heads of schools are protected from attack by any form of challenges that may hinder them from realising their optimal performance at their leadership roles.
He added that the government needs to involve head teachers in the national budget-making process., equipping schools with digital facilities, developing school equipment policy, tooling and retooling of teachers on ICT and education review processes.
To bridge the digital divide, Oyuu added that the government needs to progressively address the inadequate infrastructure for e-learning at all levels of education and training as well as the capacity needs among teachers.
“Knut has exceedingly played a pivotal role in ensuring connectivity, accessibility and affordability of technology and ICT infrastructure that can facilitate hybrid learning,” he stated.
“To be ICT compliant, we need internet connectivity, something lacking in most of our schools. Teachers dig deep into their pockets to buy bundles to access the digital content for teaching.”
He noted that the union is pressuring the government to invest more in ICT and increase the budget for digital platforms in teaching and learning.
