Special needs education teachers in Laikipia have threatened to go on strike over the implementation of Career Progression Guidelines as schools reopen for the third term.
Speaking in Nanyuki, representatives of more than 100 teachers from the county said they were seeking the implementation of recommendations adopted by the National Assembly in February on their grading, backdated payments to 2018 and outstanding arrears.
The teachers said they had pursued the matter through administrative channels and were considering industrial action over the issue.
Mwenda Mwaithumbi, the Laikipia county coordinator for special needs education teachers, said the teachers wanted the National Assembly recommendations implemented.
The teachers said the matter dates back to 2018, when the system of paying teachers was migrated from schemes of service to Career Progression Guidelines. They said the guidelines provided for special needs education teachers to be two grades higher than their counterparts in regular schools.
They said the guidelines recognised the specialised work of teachers handling learners with disabilities and provided for benefits and allowances linked to the grades.
Muchangi Kareba, the Runyenjes MP who moved the motion, said the National Assembly had been informed that the discrepancy in payroll titles was linked to changes in the central government payroll system, which required coordination with the Ministry of Public Service.
He said the Public Petitions Committee had been informed that job titles in the payroll had not been aligned with the 2018 Career Progression Guidelines for special needs education teachers, with the delay attributed to the ongoing reconfiguration of the government payroll platform.
The MP said the matter had not adversely affected basic salaries but had affected other benefits and allowances linked to specific job grades.
The teachers said the National Assembly gave TSC six months from February to implement the recommendations.
Mwenda said teachers had expected the August payments to reflect the new grades.
He said the teachers were prepared to mobilise colleagues across the country over the issue.
The teachers also called for a clear mechanism to pursue their concerns with TSC and other government agencies.
Rosemary Kinyua, a special needs education teacher, said TSC documents dating back to 2021 recognised the specialised role of SNE teachers and provided pathways for their career progression.
She said the documents provided for higher grading for teachers working in special needs primary and secondary institutions because of the additional responsibilities involved in teaching learners with disabilities.
Kinyua said the teachers had pursued the matter through administrative channels since 2023, with the aim of having the recommendations implemented without resorting to industrial action.
She said the teachers were now considering industrial action over the issue.
The teachers said they planned to mobilise colleagues countrywide to camp outside county TSC offices while keeping away from their work stations.
