As one of three problems they identified, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has asked for a review of the rules and regulations surrounding national examinations.
The KUPPET Secretary General, Akello Misori, said that the examiners were treated like prisoners in an interview aired on Ramogi TV on January 11.
He said that members of the union at St. Francis Mang’u Girls High School went on strike because of the poor living conditions in the marking centers.
“Do you know that in the marking centre, even the prisoners are better off? When they got to those centres nobody was allowed to leave. You cannot even visit anyone.
In addition, Misori said that there was a need for a revision of the pay structure for examiners due to the fact that the government was utilizing a model that was designed in 1987.
“They are still being paid Ksh150 per day. That money cannot even buy you a soda when you get out of the centres. Why should they be paid such an amount of money yet they are determining the future of so many children,” he stated.
Noting that some of the protesting teachers had been teargassed after laying down their tools, he also demanded that the Ministry of Education show some deference to the angry teachers.
But Misori persuaded his fellow workers to return to job, saying that they had already agreed to a contract.
Before the next round of marking is conducted later this year, he promised that new terms and conditions would be negotiated.
The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) issued a statement on Tuesday, January 10, saying that if the striking teachers did not return to work, KNEC will hire replacements.
Previously, CRE examiners at St. Francis Mang’u Girls High School had gone on strike due to insufficient pay and unsafe working conditions.
KCSE results are set to be released before schools reopen on January 23.
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