The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has raised concern over the low pay for the exam invigilators and supervisors and called on the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) to review the payment upwards.

KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori regretted that teachers are being paid peanuts to supervise and invigilate the exam noting the invigilators should be paid money commensurate to the job done.

Speaking at Ntakira Secondary school, North Imenti Constituency, Meru county, Misori said even grounds men and other none teaching staff are paid better than those teachers and especially those tasked with the marking of the exam.

He said KNEC has failed to review and improve on the terms of payment for preparation and invigilation of exams.

“The school administrators are still being paid peanuts. A principal of a school is being paid as low as Sh 500.This is despite the tiresome work of going to the container very early in the morning, mid morning and evening. This is very unfortunate and the payment should be improved upwards,” said Misori.

He noted that the deputy principals of the schools are not covered, and neither are the teachers who prepare laboratories for use by students.

He said it is worrying that even after the exams are done the teachers marking are still being paid a paltry Sh 150.

“Even farmhands are not paid such amount of money. In fact we are contemplating a raft of actions related to this. We are consulting with our members in relation to this,” Misori said.

Expressing similar sentiments, Meru Branch KUPPET Executive Secretary Karuti Nchebere called on KNEC to improve the payment of the invigilators to match the job done.

He also cautioned KNEC against coercing the teachers to join in the exercise noting it should be done on voluntary basis.

Nchebere advised teachers dissatisfied with the pay to decline applying for the job and wait until KNEC comes looking for them with an improved pay deal.

Misori said the domiciling of grade nine in the primary school is very unfortunate and called on the government to move them to secondary schools where they are enough facilities.

“There are many classrooms in secondary schools. Grade nine should be taken there otherwise it will be a disaster if the government still insists on this,” Misori said.

Misori cautioned teachers against irresponsible drinking and especially cheap alcohol which could endanger their life’s.

He called on teachers to embrace further learning instead of wasting time on earning peanuts through extra teaching.

Misori urged the union branch officials to sensitise teachers on good financial management in order to avoid unnecessary loses especially from bad loans.

Nchebere lauded the government for resolving to employ 46,000 Junior Secondary teachers on permanently and pensionable basis.

He urged TSC to look for a new insurance scheme for teachers as Minet is not offering good services to teachers.

He urged teachers invigilating exams not to be involved in irregularities.

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