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TSC responds to September Strike Call by Hon.Sossion, Why is KUPPET tight lipped over the strike call? Is the Government using Divide and rule?

KNUT was the only teachers’ Union that signed 2017-2021 CBA and their choice to remain tight lipped has astonished many. Why is KUPPET silent over September strike? Is the government using divide and rule to achieve its objective(s)?

Its seems like September strike call by KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion has touched the ground with a thud and its giving TSC sleepless nights. The Secretary General has strongly registered his displeasures in the following areas;

  • Delocalisation of schools’ heads.
  • Promotion of teachers with higher qualifications.
  • Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development Programme.
  • Unfavourable Circulars released without consultations.

In a bid to respond and state its position pertaining what the Secretary general has raised, TSC has categorically and clearly replied to Honourable Sossion’s September strike call. Here are the key things the commission addressed;

1. Delocalisation and Assignment of teachers

  • Delocalisation of institutional adminstration is provided in the CBAs signed between teachers’ unions and TSC signed October 2016. The CBAs were subsequently registered under Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) November and became binding to all parties that signed the agreement. During Negotiations and signing of the 2017-2021 CBA, Honourable Wilson Sossion fully participated and indeed signed the binding agreement under his capacity as KNUT the Secretary Genaral
  • Outside the CBA and as a matter of policy and practice, employment of TSC is offered on basis of willingness and readiness of all employees to work at any part of the country where their services will be required.

2. Teacher Appraisal Programme

The teacher appraisal programme is provided for in the clause 4 of the respective CBAs and Regulation 52 of the teacher Regulation Act (2015). Specifically the relevant provision States that; The commission shall develop an open performance appraisal system for teachers in its employment to strengthen supervision and to continuously monitor the performance in curriculum implementation at institution level.

Crucially, Tue code itself was developed in the most participatory manner and KNUT gave its input on all the provisions of the code. Effectively, KNUT fully endorsed the Teacher Appraisal Programme. In fact the Union participated in the benchmarking trip to the United Kingdom and later a six-month pilot project Teacher Appraisal Programme carried out in six counties across the country.

3. Implementation of the CBA

The commission is committed to the full implementation of the CBA as negotiated and signed. From 1st July 2017 the commission raised salaries of teachers in the first phase implementation. The implementation of the second phase commenced on 1st July 2018 and teachers salaries have soon been increased inline with the CBAs. As TSC meets its part of the agreement, the leadership of the Unions should honestly and truthfully inform their members that improved salaries, implementation of appraisal and delocalisation are part of what the unions negotiated and signed for.

After all is said and done, Teachers’ Unions and the teacher employer must come to a common conclusion and settle these issues as provided for in the binding agreement.

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