KNUT Demands Legal Reforms to Safeguard Teachers’ Benefits After Dismissal
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) is urging a significant policy change that would secure teachers’ benefits even in cases of dismissal related to disciplinary matters.
Speaking at a teachers’ engagement forum in Kilifi County, KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu characterized the existing system as unfair and discriminatory, contending that a teacher’s right to benefits ought not to be tied to their conduct.
The union’s recommendation aims to revise the law to require the government and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to fulfill all accumulated benefits, regardless of the reasons for an educator’s departure from the profession.
“Our proposal as a union is that if you are terminated for any reason, your conduct should not influence your benefits. You should receive payment for the time you served,” Oyuu remarked.
According to KNUT, the present policy unfairly penalizes teachers who might have dedicated many years to service but forfeit all their retirement benefits due to disciplinary violations, some of which the union contends could be minor or subjective in nature.
Oyuu further stressed that while accountability is vital, financial rights should be determined by service provided, not by individual behavior.
The union’s initiative comes as part of a larger campaign to reform the treatment of teachers by the TSC, with KNUT also recently condemning recruitment procedures and disciplinary processes, which they assert are lacking in transparency and fairness.
Teachers at the Kilifi forum shared these views, recounting personal experiences of colleagues who lost their jobs and savings over what they perceived as unjust dismissals.
The proposal is anticipated to ignite discussion within the education sector and government, particularly concerning the necessity to balance employee rights with professional standards and ethical obligations.
Nevertheless, KNUT asserts that the financial stability of teachers must not be jeopardized, especially in a field that already grapples with morale issues due to demanding workloads and restricted career development.
The TSC has not yet provided an official statement, but sources indicate that the commission may resist such an overarching policy alteration, claiming that disciplinary measures must have significance to preserve professional integrity within the teaching profession.
As KNUT gets ready to formally present its proposal, it remains to be seen how Parliament and the Ministry of Education will react to what could become a crucial labor rights concern in Kenya’s educational landscape.