The People ­ Monday
Date: 07.09.2015
Page 10
Article size: 203 cm2
ColumnCM: 45.11
AVE: 56930.22
Forget the salaries, teachers should also earn respect
The findings of a study by Knut in a local daily
last week unsurprisingly revealed that more than
200,000 teachers could quit the profession if their
salaries are not adjusted upwards.
According to the report, 76 per cent of teach­
ers in public schools wish to leave the profession
because their "professional and personal needs"
are not met. The personal needs include salaries,
allowances and recognition of their efforts by the
society while the professional include capac­
ity building, promotions, availability of proper
teaching and learning tools and security while
on duty.
The study, which sought the views of 5,681 re­
spondents, further revealed 35 per cent of teach­
ers rated provision of the personal and profes­ cause the chances of one getting a j ob, especially
sional needs as "poor". Another 25 per cent said for post­primary, and staying in that job for a long
the provision of the needs is "inadequate" while time are higher, save for a few other professions.
16 per cent felt the services are "not provided at
The fact that many teachers are angling to quit
all".
classroom is not a situation peculiar to Kenya. In
The outcome of this study is predictable, most countries, even in developed ones such as
especially now that the teachers are on strike the US and UK, teachers are resigning in large
after the government decided not to honour a numbers, even those teaching in private sector!
50­60 per cent pay increment awarded by the
In the UK, a study released a few months ago
courts.
by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers re­
One wonders what other options the teachers vealed that almost four in 10 teachers quit within
could have if they decided to quit the profession. a year of employment, with 11,000 leaving the
Well, I am not intimating that teachers have no profession before they have really begun their
other options beyond teaching but rather the fact career and record numbers of those who remain
that most people pursue teaching as a career not giving up mid the career.
because it pays well, but to a certain extent, be­
Unlike Kenya, the exodus is necessitated by
As unions fight for
ww teachers'pay rise, they
should seek to address
issues that deny the profession
and teachers respect
the "unbearable" constant monitoring by agen­
based on merit are non­existent and bonuses are
cies such Office for Standard in Education, Chil­
few and far between. Furthermore, the pitiable community but rarely receive attention or forms
salary increments are earned on yearly basis of redress. In any other profession, if you are
solely for the level of degree and experience. The subjected to comments that are harassing, you
salary is often not competitive as in other profes­ could sue the employer if they take no action. Yet
sions where employees have the same education a teacher is expected to hear something totally
level.
out of line and bullied by the sector players but
dren's Services and Skills (Ofsted), which carries
out hundreds of inspections and regulatory visits
to monitor the delivery of learning outcomes of
ment from parents, headteachers, learners and
teachers throughout England.
However, generally, there are many reasons
The working environment in most schools is nothing happens.
that are endearing teachers to quit j ob at the ear­
deplorable and teaching remains one of the most
As they fight for teachers salaries, the unions
liest opportunity. A career in teaching doesn't of­
fer promotions that easily. Promotions are more risky profession because of the current freedoms should also address some of these issues so that
availed to learners by various statutes.
the profession and teachers can earn some re­
pegged on networks and connections. Salary rise
T eachers face a number of untoward mistreat­ spect.
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