*A TEACHER HAS DIED AT LENANA BOYS WHILE MARKING BIOLOGY PAPER ONE*

Examiners marking Biology paper one at LENANA high say the female teacher collapsed and died while marking past this weekend.

KNEC is silent and is yet to release details of the teacher.

Female teachers take the biggest risk, when going for marking. Sanitation is bad. Provisions for women monthly hormonal changes are not catered for at boys schools like LENANA. We are calling on female teacher's leaders across Kenya to speak out on the same.

Note. The conditions in all marking centers are inhuman, pathetic and deadly. KNUT wrote a letter to KNEC demanding that teachers welfare in marking centers be improved. They also demanded proper compensation and recreation of examiners. Unions have highlighted these sufferings for long. We must highlight these terrible conditions and demand changes.

*CONCLUSION*
Teaching is quickly being turned into a form of slavery. Only our solidarity as teachers can save us from this inhumane acts.
#KNUTNEWS
@EducationBlog

*KUPPET AND KNEC TO MEET ON TUESDAY OVER THE EXAM MARKING CRISIS*

_KCSE markers’ strike sheds light on low pay_

nation.co.keDec 8, 2019 6:34 AM
KCSE


Protests by teachers marking this year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations have exposed the poor working conditions they endure in order to deliver on their contracts.

_The tough conditions range from poor pay, accommodation and food, long working hours and round-the-clock monitoring by detectives drawn from various security agencies._

POOR CONDITIONS

The examiners are also banned from using mobile phones in the marking halls and can only access them late in the night or at dawn. These working conditions have led experienced examiners to shun the exercise.

*_Unlike in the past when the examiners used to mark the examinations over at least one month, the time has been reduced to between 16 and 18 days over the past four years in an attempt to curb cheating._*

“We are determined to conclude marking of the examinations on time so that we can release the results before Christmas,” said Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha during the ceremony concluding the KCSE examinations at Kenya High School.

Examiners in the 20 marking centres have been complaining over poor working conditions but it is the two-day protest by markers based at Machakos Girls High School that brought the poor conditions to light. The examiners cited harassment and intimidation by the centre manager while demanding an increase in the amount paid for marking the Business Studies paper from Sh46 to Sh68.

BEAT DEADLINE

After drawn-out negotiations with the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec), the amount was raised to Sh52 per script. According to Knec, Sh52 is paid per script for Christian religious Education (CRE), same as History while a Chemistry script fetches Sh46. English and Kiswahili scripts fetch an examiner Sh60.

Depending on an individual examiner’s speed, one can mark between 1,000 and 1,500 scripts during the entire exercise.

“When you arrive at an examination centre, you are given a roll of tissue paper, a blanket and a pair of sheets. The accommodation is in the dormitories used by students,” explained an examiner who sought anonymity for fear of victimisation by Knec.

The examiners are required to wake up as early as 5am and retire to bed at 11pm, with a one-hour lunch break. They are also required to work during public holidays to ensure they beat the Knec deadline of completing the exercise within 18 days.

LITTLE PAY

_“Guys are overworking in order to take home something good and this may compromise the quality of the results,” said another examiner._

On Thursday and Friday, marking of the Physics practicals was stopped at Upper Hill Secondary School marking centre as teachers demanded better pay. The go-slow forced Knec to hold a series of crisis meetings to calm the situation. Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima said the teachers were being subjected to long hours of marking and receiving very little pay. He added that teachers in most of the marking centres were on a go-slow because of poor pay and threats from their seniors and the examination council.

“Teachers have not marked the exam on Thursday and Friday, and as a union we want Knec to improve their pay,” he said.

*_The teachers were being paid Sh46 like their Business Studies counterparts._*

SACRIFICING

“We have already talked with teachers. We are addressing their issues to ensure that marking goes on successfully and credible results will be released,” Knec acting chief executive officer Mercy Karogo said after the go-slow went public.

During the ceremony to release this year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination results, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) chief executive Nancy Macharia acknowledged that teachers involved in the administration of the examinations were sacrificing a lot.

She said during the examination, thousands of teachers were engaged as centre managers, supervisors, invigil

ators and examiners.

_“These assignments required of them to rise up as early as 5am daily. As a matter of fact, we wouldn’t be here were it not for the teachers’ work. The TSC, therefore, wishes to celebrate these teachers for their sacrifice,” said Ms Macharia._

CONVEYOR BELT

A total of 26,597 teachers are involved in marking the KCSE examinations. In the exercise, seven examiners and a team leader form a pool. For every 10 scripts they mark, the team leader goes through two, picked randomly, to check if they have been marked well. The margin of error allowed is plus or minus two, anything outside of this and the examiner is forced to remark the script.

Team leaders work under assistant examiners who also go through the answer sheets. Scripts with errors are put together and a council member checks the corrections before marks are recorded. Prof Magoha is on record stating that Knec is employing a “conveyor-belt system” to ensure that no single examiner marks an entire script by themselves. It means one examiner marks, say two questions, and passes the script to the next examiner.

*_Kuppet and Knec are planning a crisis meeting on Tuesday to address the teachers’ grievances. Kuppet has also asked Prof Magoha to intervene._

#COPIED&SHARED

THE STORY OF MONKEY BUSINESS, BITCOIN AND OTHER CRYPTO CURRENCIES.

Many of us have heard of the term "Monkey Business". What was it all about?

A lot, of monkeys lived near a village.🐒🐒. One day, a merchant came to that village to buy these monkeys🐵.He announced that he will buy the monkeys @ $100 each. 🐵💵. The villagers thought that this man is mad.

They thought how can somebody buy stray monkeys at $100 each? Still, some people caught some monkeys and gave it to this merchant and he gave $100 for each monkey.

This news spread like wildfire and people caught monkeys and sold it to the merchant. After a few days, the merchant announced that he will buy monkeys $200 each. 🐵💵 The lazy villagers also ran around to catch the remaining monkeys!🐒 They sold the remaining monkeys @ $200 each.

Then the merchant announced that he will buy monkeys $500 💵 each. The villagers start to loose sleep! ... They caught six or seven monkeys, which was all that was left and got $500 each.🙊🐵🐒 The villagers were waiting anxiously for the next announcement.

Then the merchant announced that he is going home for a week. And when he returns, he will buy monkeys 🐵 at $1000 💵 each. He asked his employee to take care of the monkeys he bought. The employee was alone taking care of all the master monkeys 🐒in a cage. The merchant went home.

The villagers were very sad as there were no more monkeys left for them to catch and sell at $1000 each. Then the employee told them that he will sell some monkeys to them @ $700 💵 each secretly. This news spread like fire. Since the merchant will buy the monkeys @ $1000 💵 each, there is a $300 profit for each monkey.

The next day, villagers made a queue near the monkey cage.🐒 The employee sold all the monkeys to the villagers at $700 💵 each. The rich bought monkeys in big lots. The poor borrowed money from money lenders and also bought monkeys 🐒🐒🐒💵💵💵 in anticipation of scooping $300 dollar profit on each money. The villagers took care of their monkeys & waited for the merchant to return.

But nobody returned! ...😤 Then, they ran to the employee. But he has already left too !

The villagers then realised that they have bought the useless stray monkeys @ $700 💵 each and unable to sell them 😩 and they lost all their monies in the monkey business.

The Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ripple, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Coinye, No_Drop_Out of Development Channel and other Crypto currencies will be the next monkey 🙈🙉🙊 business.

It will make a lot of people bankrupt and a few people filthy rich in this monkey business. 🐒😉😅 That' how it works🤣. That simple. This story looks funny yet it makes a lot of sense in the scenario of Bitcoin and these other scam businesses targeting desperate and uninformed people looking to make quick money.

Be careful about Bitcoin and other scam businesses😎

🔰 @TeachersUpdates 🔰
#Vacancy

🔰 @TeachersUpdates 🔰
#Vacancy

Mks county delocalisation
@EducationBlog

TSC reviews Master's condition for school principals ⁣ This follows concerns by Kuppet, which said many do not have the degree. .

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*HEALTH WORKERS INCLUDING DOCTORS HAVE NOT BEEN PAID OCT - NOV SALARIES AS OF 23RD DECEMBER 2019*

When Dr. Oluga posted that his members in the Doctors union have not been paid, many laughed it off. Truth is, these very critical workers will not enjoy Christmass this year. As our media houses highlight the #WajingaNyinyi political rhetoric that Kenyans love, truth is critical sectors of our country are grinding to a halt.

BUT that is how serious things are in our country. These are doctors, who offer a very essential service to all of us. Not paid for 3 months. A casual Kenyan will dismiss this as carelessness of county govts. Let this be clear. Devolution is in the constitution. Yet it is down with no funding. The judiciary is down. The CJ Maraga even boycotted the Jamhuri day celebrations because his staff and arm of govt has been left kwa mataa with no money. Big businesses and companies have either closed down or relocated. University lecturers were expecting a back dated boom in salaries this week. . Government has renegaded on their CBA.

The only remaining functioning group of workers that still get their pay on time are teachers. Already their December pay is in the bank. This is mainly due to strong UNIONS that signed a CBA and placed in court for safety. But we all know, that was the last CBA teachers will see in the next many years. Why.

1. GOVT IS BROKE. That is the grim reality. Hakuna pesa ya kulipa workers. If you think this is a joke. This January, TSC will employ graduate teachers on contract and pay them 6,000 after tax. Those teachers are not uninionisable. Nobody will defend them. Govt can even psy them 500 a month for all they care. This will apply to all teachers, nurses etc. Watch this space.
2. KILLING UNIONS. Unions will be long gone as govt will ensure they starve to death and not able to bargain. As of now primary school teachers will never ever see a cba that favours them. Shortly Kuppet will go. Dr. Ouma Oluga who led a successful doctors strike will tell you for free, his union KMPDU is fast dying. No funding is forthcoming.

*CONCLUSION*
Ukiona cha mwenzako kikinyolewa, chako tia maji. This month and the last few months staff at the doctors union and at KNUT will not get salaries. Keep laughing at them. My kids will not enjoy xmass or go to school next year because of fate. Doctors are in that group. Those who are happy about this.. keep laughing at them. Your time will come
#AmungaPeter

KEWOTA Accused Of Stealing From Teachers https://nyakundi.tv/kewota-accused-of-stealing-from-teachers/

Forwarded

TSC IN 2020, DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYEES.

Dear Benard We are grateful to have a dedicated employee like you. We achieved a lot in 2019 due to your commitment to duty. Merry Xmas & Happy 2020.

Well, to begin with, I appreciate such a message from my employer. It makes me feel appreciated.

For a long time, teachers felt neglected until a teacher highlighted it on this forum.
However, the difference comes in when you realize that Tsc is a parasatal.
Most employers are giving their employees end year bonuses, gifts, little appreciations which go a long way to crown the year in style and make the employees feel recognized, their efforts worthwhile.

Not so with TSC.
Tsc is an employer that only appreciates the secretariat and diminishes the "Fundas" on the ground. The employer works hard to ensure no teacher earns more than a Driver in the secretariat.

Teachers have to put up with an employer whose only sole aim is to make them feel unappreciated on the ground.

What will it cost the employer, in this case, TSC to give its employees an end year bonus to teachers for the long running year that was?

TSC never provides teachers with tea break, teachers have to cough a few coins to make their tea and lunch.. If a principal feels charitable enough, they give you this, which they never fail to remind us that it's a favor not guaranteed any time.
Wouldn't it be a appropriate or of appreciation if TSC in its budgetary allocations finds6a way of treating its employees vizuri?
Tsc secretariat shines on top of the apex but vitu different kwa ground.
#TSCrethinkyourapproach come 2020.
Merry Christmas to you Too, My employer, TSC. @EducationBlog

TSC transfer, delocalisation, lists for teachers in December 2019 per county; All counties’ lists @TeachersUpdates

Misori: Sossion was ready to quit but ... ⁣ In the book, Kuppet secretary-general reveals infighting within giant union .

TSC re-advertises vacancies for principals, head teachers and deputy head teachers. To apply, visit teachersonline.go.ke and click on the portal: ACTIVE ADVERTS FOR TEACHERS
@teachersUpdates #vacancy

BREAKING NEWS FROM TSC HEADQUATERS ON CLASSROOM TEACHERS DELOCALISATION!

The Teachers Service Commission, TSC, is priming itself for a major delocalization for classroom teachers in the coming new year. 2020 will mark the commencement of the first group of classroom teachers to be transferred to other counties away from their current working counties.

This is to affect specifically the teachers who have served for at least 5 years in their current working stations. Via a memo dated 27th December 2019 the TSC Deputy Director in charge of staffing Dr. Dorothy Owuor instructs the County Directors to collate data for classroom teachers within their areas of jurisdiction.

This procedure is said to not affect the senior teachers and deputy principals whose delocalisation will effect at the end of 2021. According to the TSC boss, Dr Nancy Macharia, teachers with serious medical conditions will be spared from the planned delocalization exercise. Also to be spared are those aged above 56 years.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers, KNUT, is opposed to the massive delocalization exercise and says it should be executed with a human face. Nancy Macharia on her part says it is intended that the transfer will provide the classroom teachers with a new working environment and also tap into their vast experience. She also added that this will help minimize ethnicity which is a "cancer" in the nation since it is the teachers who shape the future of the country.

UNION MATTERS CAN'T BE POLITICISED, ESPECIALLY WHERE AN INDEPENDENT CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION IS INVOLVED: KNUT MAKING FURTHER MISTAKES

The recent activities of the former ELRC Sg of Knut to hang around politicians during the cultural festival hosted by Mudavadi and COTU boss Atwoli in Vihiga on the 26th December, the hope being offered by politicians to Knut top leadership is laughable. What Mudavadi isn't aware of is that TSC hasn't killed Knut . But it's the strategy of poor leadership of the Sg and National Steering dating back six years ago came to haunt Knut. This continuos song of Knut created TSC is also a fallacy because it was a creation of 2010 Kenyan Constitution which the " *WE* "people of Kenya passed.

The now left alone National leadership and some branch secretaries should know that teachers issues are professional ,not political. There is clear demarcation of professional and labour issues and political posturing. Knut can only get mileage in boardroom engagements and not political rallies. What Mudavadi is offering to do is a move in futility that won't see the light of the day, if his ANC party alone can not command even the politics of his home County.

The narrative that TSC has removed every teacher from Knut is also another cheap propaganda by Peter Kodhek Amunga to seek public sympathy which can't be consumed by any sane thinking Kenyan . Facts are hard to face that teachers took the advantage of the T-Pay System and opted out of Knut, in order to get an increament on their net pay from the what they used to pay as union dues which was being looted to fuel big cars and even wrote letters to their employer TSC informing them of their actions which is well documents in every employees file. The issue of Revocation of Recognition Agreement between TSC and Knut is a legal matter and in the event that one party which is the union falls short of the bare minimum then TSC has all the Constitutional rights to Revoke it. Court Sg Sossion is on record disobeying court orders from various ELRC over litigations case against him by fellow union officials,and they shouldn't castigate TSC for not obeying and while the employer is on record implementing all the court orders which some it's Knut which took them to court over and the impacts now coming to haunt them.

Finally, all union officials are first employees of TSC and not Knut and when then employer feels it's fit to take back his employees no one can dictate to them what to do, and in the event that they have no members to serve thus they must all be recalled and redeployed back to class and this is an issue which mustn't be politicised.

RESOLUTION
Knut turned into an opposition party and militia group group while TSC is and independent Constitutional commission handling it's matters with the laid down CORT and the Constitution of Kenya,2010. What teachers have been doing on social media is to inform fellow comrades of the truth and to dispel propaganda from pro Knut bloggers.

No political solution will help resurrect Knut from the purgatory

By: ONYANGO OTIENO,PHD
@EducationBlog