Teachers have issued a warning to the government, threatening to shut down public secondary schools within a week if the Ministry of Education fails to disburse capitation funds for the current school term.

Speaking during the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) National Governing Council meeting on July 11, 2025, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori said most schools are in deep financial trouble, with many struggling to keep learners in school due to unpaid fees and lack of operational funds.

“Principals are really struggling to keep learners in school. They have waited for the government to release the capitation funds, but it is taking too long,” said Misori.

“With the current economic hardships, most parents have not paid school fees. If nothing is done soon, it will be impossible to keep these schools running. The only viable option left may be to send students home.”

Misori noted that since January, the government has only released Ksh4,000 per learner — far below the required Ksh22,244 — making it difficult for schools to function. He said the funds are meant to cater for essential services including food, water, electricity, teaching materials, and co-curricular activities.

“From January to now, only Ksh4,000 has been released per student. That is drastically below the required amount. Schools need to pay for food, water, electricity, teaching materials, and co-curricular activities. Without proper funding, all these essential services are at risk,” he stated.

He added that school heads are under pressure, caught between running institutions without resources and dealing with frustrated parents who are also struggling financially. If the situation remains unresolved, Misori warned, a national school shutdown will be inevitable.

At the same meeting, KUPPET also raised concerns over the slow progress in the negotiation of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

The current CBA expires on June 30, 2025, and Misori said talks with TSC had already started, but the union will not accept any deal that does not offer meaningful pay increases.

“TSC has remained silent even after being served with our proposal. We have taken the necessary steps to involve the Ministry of Labour because we are not ready to accept anything that does not improve the welfare of our members,” said Misori, adding that they had already notified Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua after TSC failed to respond officially.

According to KUPPET’s proposals, teachers in higher job groups should receive a 50 per cent salary increase, while those in lower grades should get a 100 per cent increment. The union is also pushing for a harmonised house allowance and an additional 20 per cent rise across all job groups.

“In our proposed CBA, we are also asking for a 200 per cent increase in commuter allowance for higher grades and a 250 per cent increase for lower cadres. These teachers are incurring significant transport costs, especially those working in rural and remote areas,” Misori said.

He added that teachers working in hardship areas should receive a 100 per cent increment in hardship allowance, and called for the introduction of a hazardous duty allowance equal to 20 per cent of basic pay.

KUPPET is also advocating for better financial support for teachers involved in co-curricular activities. Misori said those travelling for sports, drama or academic events should receive daily subsistence allowances based on their pay scale, as many currently dig into their own pockets.

The union further proposed changes to the current leave allowance model, recommending that teachers be paid one month’s basic salary as leave allowance instead of the existing flat rate system that varies by job group.

Additional proposals in the CBA include the introduction of overtime allowances and risk compensation for teachers serving in high-risk areas such as those affected by banditry and insecurity in parts of northern and eastern Kenya.

KUPPET Chairperson Omboko Milemba backed Misori’s position, urging the TSC, Ministry of Labour, and the National Assembly’s Education Committee to urgently respond to teachers’ long-standing demands.

“We must treat teachers with the dignity they deserve. They are the backbone of our education system. Ignoring their plight will only deepen the crisis in our schools,” said Milemba.

He also strongly criticised proposals to scrap the national examination fee subsidy, calling it a violation of children’s right to free and compulsory education.

“Examination fees are a critical component of basic education. Removing them undermines Article 53 of the Constitution, which guarantees every child the right to free and compulsory education. If we start charging exam fees again, we will be locking out thousands of poor children from progressing in their education,” Milemba warned.

As pressure mounts, the government faces growing calls to release funds and fast-track salary negotiations to avoid a looming school shutdown that could further disrupt learning across the country.