The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has demanded the immediate promotion of at least 130,000 teachers who have stagnated in the same job groups for years.

Speaking on Wednesday, Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori said the government must prioritise teacher promotions, recruitment and funding of schools instead of engaging in what he termed as “side shows” on devolution.

“The government should provide funds to promote the 130,000 teachers who have stagnated for years and employ at least 160,000 more to address the acute shortage. The deficit is particularly severe at the junior secondary school level, where more than 60,000 teachers are needed,” Misori said.

The union warned that teacher stagnation has demoralised staff and undermined quality education delivery, urging the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to fast-track promotions across all grades.

It further accused counties of mismanaging essential services such as health warning that if education was placed under the counties they would risk the quality.

“Healthcare is often disrupted by staff strikes, ghost workers, and lack of medical supplies. That is what devolved units can offer, and this is why education cannot be left to them. Instead of pushing for a referendum, we are urging leaders to address pressing challenges in the sector,” Mr Misori added.

Among the union’s broader proposals are abolishing bursaries and scholarships in favour of making public education free at all levels, boosting school funding, and domiciling junior secondary schools within existing secondary institutions to leverage infrastructure and teaching staff. 

It also proposed phasing out costly boarding schools by 2030 to allow learners to study closer to their homes.

“The government should provide a budget for the employment of 106,000 new teachers to meet the current deficit declared by TSC. The deficit is acute at the JSS level which stands at more than 60,000 teachers,” said Mr Misori.

On the recent dispute over school capitation, the union welcomed President William Ruto’s assurance that the government will maintain Sh22,244 per secondary school student annually. 

This followed Treasury’s earlier decision to cut the allocation to Sh16,900, which KUPPET said would have plunged schools into debt.