Narok KUPPET Executive Secretary Charles Ngeno/photo file

The Teachers Service Commission, (TSC) is under pressure to compensate teachers who underwent additional training during the August holiday to prepare for the rollout of Grade 9 under the Competency-Based Education (CBE).

The call was made by Charles Ngeno, the Secretary-General of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Narok branch, who said it was unfair for teachers to work without compensation, especially after sacrificing their holiday time to support critical education reforms.

“These teachers gave up their rest time to attend training sessions meant to prepare them for the new curriculum,” said Ngeno. “They volunteered, yes — but that doesn’t mean they should go unpaid. TSC must honor their efforts by paying them their rightful allowances — without delay.”

The teachers, most of them senior secondary school educators, underwent face-to-face retooling sessions from July 28 to August 15, 2025, across various designated county venues.

The sessions focused on preparing them to teach Grade 9 and beyond, as part of the CBC Senior School rollout, which includes, the STEM, social sciences, and arts and sports pathways.

Ngeno further emphasized that payment should be made in accordance with teachers’ respective job grades and not through a blanket rate.

“Whenever teachers are called upon to attend such mandatory training, their allowances must reflect their job groups. A one-size-fits-all approach is not acceptable,” he stated.

He criticized the Ksh500 daily allowance that has previously been paid to teachers in similar training sessions, saying it was only accepted in the past due to prior mutual agreements and warned that such rates would not be accepted moving forward.

“We tolerated the Ksh 500 rate before because it was communicated and agreed upon. But going forward, that rate will not be entertained. Our teachers deserve better.”

The training was part of ongoing national efforts to prepare schools and educators for the full rollout of Grades 10 to 12, which will require specialized teaching across new learning pathways introduced under the CBC.

KUPPET officials have urged TSC and the Ministry of Education to ensure that teachers are not only trained effectively but also motivated through fair remuneration, to guarantee the success of the reforms.