TSC orders teachers to report to work

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has ordered teachers to report to work when schools open for the third term on Monday.

In a statement sent to newsrooms, TSC stated that it had not received a strike notice from either the Kenya Union of Teaches (KNUT) or Kenya Union of Post Primary School Teachers (KUPPET) saying the opening dates, set by Ministry of Education, still stand.

“The Commission has not received any strike notice from either the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) or Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teaches (Kuppet),” read the statement in part.

“The school term dates are set by the Cabinet Secretary for Education Science and Technology and as such Third term will run from 31st August to 12th November 2015.”

TSC referenced statements in the media attributed to union officials calling on teachers to boycott work from Monday 31 over pay rise, saying the matter is pending in the Court of Appeal.

“In any case, the only dispute the commission is aware of is the economic dispute which is the subject matter of an appeal in the Court of Appeal.”

“All teachers are, therefore, expected in their respective work stations from Monday 31st August 2015 performing their teaching and administrative duties.”

KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion and Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori had last week told teachers to abscond duty beginning Monday 31st August if the new salary increments were not implemented.

Speaking in separate events on Wednesday, the unions had warned that teachers would not resume work if a court ruling ordering TSC to effect the 50 to 60 per cent pay increment is no effected.

The matter will be heard on September 22, 2015.