This archive report was first published on 6 December 2019.
On Thursday, December 5, 2019, examiners at Upper Hill High School in Nairobi began a go-slow, demanding better pay for marking the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Physics practical exams.
The Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) held crisis meetings to address the situation, but the Kenya Post Primary Education Teacher's Union (Kuppet) officials were barred from entering the centre on Friday.
Kuppet Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima stated that despite working long hours, teachers were being paid a meager Sh46 per script marked.
Knec CEO Mercy Karogo claimed that the council had addressed the teachers' grievances and marking had resumed, but Kuppet alleged that teachers were being intimidated and subjected to a harsh working environment.
“We want to be called on a negotiation table to discuss examiners' pay, the minimum pay per paper should be increased to Sh100 per script marked,” Kuppet officials said.
Teachers are demanding better pay and working conditions, with Kuppet Chairman Omboko Milemba stating that they should not be forced to sleep on students' beds.
