Educators in Struggle Zones to Receive Boosted Salaries
KUPPET Urges TSC to Increase Pay for Educators in Dangerous Neighborhoods.
Teachers in high-risk areas have been asked by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) to be paid more. Specifically, KUPPET has called attention to the security concerns in three counties in the northeast region, as well as Turkana and Tana River.
The current hardship stipend for teachers in these locations does not adequately reflect the hazards they face, as stated by Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima.
Secretary of the Cabinet Kindiki’s Fears
Secretary of the Cabinet Kithure Kindiki is worried for the well-being of teachers from outside the country who have been assigned to high-crime areas in the north. In light of the complaints, Kindiki has proposed temporarily relocating the teachers earlier than originally planned.
He pointed out that the mental health of international educators has suffered as a result of the instability in these areas. Kindiki has also noted that there are locations where teachers from other areas are in danger because local people have incited enmity toward them. The Security Minister has suggested temporarily concentrating all of the country’s educators in one area to shield them from potential Al-Shabaab threats.
Mandera County Faces Difficulties Due to Teacher Shortage
With almost 300 public elementary schools and 550 public secondary schools in need of instructors, the Kenya National Union of instructors (KNUT) has called attention to the critical lack of educators in Mandera County. Teachers in the northeast have complained that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Internal Security have not responded to their concerns. The killings of 28 educators in Mandera County last year have only served to heighten these complaints.
Instructors are Subject to Hostility and Discrimination
Teachers in these areas have reported experiencing a wide range of difficulties, from disruptive children to hostile interactions with school authorities. They have been subjected to discrimination in the form of slurs like “adhome” (slaves), “nguraro” (“hard” hair”), and “kafir” (ungainly), and this has caused educators to worry.
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