The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has instructed its officers to gather school attendance data to address disciplinary issues with teachers on strike, despite a court ruling.
This development coincides with the distribution of August salaries to TSC-employed teachers, which began on Thursday. Most teachers are expected to be fully paid by Friday. These salaries, retroactive to July 1, reflect the second phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that teachers have been pressing for.
The TSC has directed its county directors to promptly compile and send school attendance data to headquarters for further action. This step is part of the commission’s effort to address the ongoing strike by the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (Kuppet), which has now entered its fifth day.
Public secondary schools remain disrupted, with teachers abstaining from classes and leaving students unattended. Only school administrators are present at the schools as the strike continues.
Kuppet officials have stated that their members will remain off-duty until a return-to-work agreement is signed with their employer. In response, TSC has contested the strike and obtained court orders on Tuesday declaring it illegal. The commission has warned of potential contempt charges if the strike does not end.
TSC legal director Cavin Anyuor confirmed that the commission has provided the union with the court orders and expects compliance. “We will monitor union members’ adherence to the court order and expect officials to respect it,” Anyuor stated.
The court’s orders, issued in response to an urgent application from TSC, will remain effective until September 5, when the matter will be reviewed. TSC officials are collecting data on teacher attendance to determine which teachers have been absent since schools reopened. This data will inform disciplinary actions, including possible salary deductions for unexcused absences.
School heads have been instructed to maintain detailed attendance records and submit them to subcounty TSC officials. TSC officials are also tasked with closely monitoring schools to ensure compliance.
A senior TSC official emphasized that the collected data will be crucial in guiding the commission’s decisions. Under TSC regulations, teachers are required to report to school on opening days, with non-compliance leading to severe penalties.
In addition, TSC regulations prohibit school administrators from participating in strikes, as they act as TSC representatives in their institutions. Kuppet has argued that the strike is not only about teachers’ welfare but also about protecting students’ right to education.
Kuppet’s demands include full implementation of the 2021-2025 CBA, promotion of teachers, hiring of Junior Secondary School teachers, and reinstatement of medical cover. The TSC has confirmed that the National Treasury released Sh13 billion to implement the CBA and that teachers can access medical cover at chosen facilities.
Under the new salary adjustments, teachers will see increases ranging from Sh1,000 to Sh3,000, backdated to July 1. For example, the salary of a Grade B5 teacher will rise from Sh22,739 to Sh23,830, while a Grade C2 primary school teacher will see their salary increase from Sh44,776 to Sh47,858 per month.
On Sunday evening, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) ended its strike just hours before the third term began, following a National Executive Council meeting chaired by Secretary General Collins Oyuu. This decision highlighted growing divisions between Knut and Kuppet as teachers continue to seek improved employment conditions.
