TSC Orders Data Collection Amid Teacher Strike
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has instructed its officers to gather school attendance data to address the ongoing strike by teachers, despite a court ruling against the strike. This development comes as teachers on the TSC payroll began receiving their August salaries on Thursday, with most expected to be fully paid by Friday. These salaries, backdated to July 1, have been adjusted as part of the second phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement, which teachers have demanded be implemented.
The TSC has asked its county directors to quickly collect and send attendance details to the main office for further action. This is part of the commission’s effort to take action against the striking Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (Kuppet), who have been absent from work for five days. On Thursday, public secondary schools were still disrupted as teachers continued their boycott, leaving students without supervision.
School administrators were present, but many teachers stayed away, following students’ return for the third term. Kuppet officials have said that their members will not return to work until a formal agreement is signed. However, the TSC has challenged the strike in court, where it received a ruling declaring the strike illegal on Tuesday.
To address the disruption in schools, the TSC wants Kuppet members to resume work according to the court’s orders and has warned of possible contempt charges against union officials. The TSC’s legal director, Cavin Anyuor, stated that the commission has given the union the court orders and expects compliance. The court’s order will remain in effect until September 5, when the matter will be reviewed.
TSC officials are now collecting data on teacher attendance to identify those who have been absent since the start of the term. School heads must complete an attendance register, known as the black book, and send it to the TSC. The TSC will also work with education officials to monitor schools closely.
A senior TSC official confirmed that the collected data will help guide the commission’s decisions, as the strike is deemed illegal by the court. According to TSC rules, teachers must report to schools on opening days, and those marked absent may face severe penalties, including pay deductions.
School administrators, such as head teachers and principals, are not allowed to join the strike, as they are TSC representatives in their schools. Kuppet insists the strike is about more than just teacher welfare; it’s about ensuring Kenyan children’s right to education.
Kuppet’s demands include full implementation of the 2021-2025 CBA, teacher promotions, employment of Junior Secondary School teachers, and reinstatement of medical cover. The TSC has stated that the National Treasury provided Sh13 billion to meet these demands and that teachers can access medical benefits at any facility. The new salary adjustments will increase teachers’ pay by between Sh1,000 and Sh3,000, backdated to July 1.
On Sunday, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) ended its strike just before the third term began, giving the TSC time to address their demands. This decision highlighted the growing divide between Knut and Kuppet, the two main teachers’ unions, as they continue to push for better employment conditions.