- Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers is demanding urgent promotion of over 135,000 teachers.
- The union says some teachers have remained in the same job groups for nearly 30 years.
- KUPPET leaders warned that continued delays could trigger industrial action.
- Teachers are calling for a fair and structured promotion system.
- Pressure is mounting on the Teachers Service Commission to address career stagnation in the education sector.
Fresh pressure is mounting on the Teachers Service Commission after the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers issued a strong warning over delayed teacher promotions and worsening career stagnation across the country.
Speaking after a post-election union meeting held on Saturday, May 16, KUPPET officials accused TSC of failing to address long-standing concerns affecting thousands of teachers, particularly those who have remained in the same job groups for years despite meeting promotion requirements.
The union is now demanding the immediate advertisement of promotion vacancies targeting approximately 135,000 teachers said to have stagnated in their current grades.
According to KUPPET leaders, some teachers have worked for close to three decades without meaningful career progression, a situation they say has deeply affected morale and motivation within schools.
KUPPET National Vice Chairperson Julius Korir said the union can no longer tolerate delays that continue to disadvantage experienced teachers.
“We cannot accept that teachers stagnate for a long time without promotions. Some work for as long as 30 years before being promoted to the D5 job group. We want that period reduced so that we can attain equality,” Korir stated.
The remarks come at a time when teachers’ unions are intensifying calls for reforms in the education sector, including faster promotions, improved staffing, and better working conditions.
Union officials argue that the current system has created frustration among teachers who continue serving in the same positions despite gaining additional experience, qualifications, and years of service.
KUPPET further warned that failure by TSC to address the issue urgently could result in industrial action that may disrupt learning in secondary schools across Kenya.
The union insists that promotions should not only be viewed as an administrative process but also as an important tool for improving teacher motivation, performance, and overall education standards.
The latest demands also emerge amid ongoing discussions on proposed reforms to the teacher promotion structure, with TSC previously indicating plans to introduce a new framework aimed at reducing the time teachers take to rise through the ranks.
Education stakeholders are now closely watching the Commission’s next move as pressure continues to build from teachers seeking fair treatment and career progression opportunities.
With tensions slowly rising between unions and education authorities, the coming weeks could prove critical in shaping the future of teacher welfare and labor relations within Kenya’s education sector.
