KUPPET Opposes Ministry’s Move to Slash Hardship Areas, Demands Inclusion of 8 Additional Zones.
Post-primary school educators have strongly objected to a proposal from the Ministry of Public Service aiming to cut down the list of hardship zones currently acknowledged by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has instead insisted that the Ministry should formalize and expand the list based on recommendations from the National Assembly.
KUPPET’s national and regional leadership stood united in rejecting the Ministry’s plan to trim the hardship zone list. They emphasized their unwavering commitment to ensuring all currently listed 44 hardship areas remain officially recognized under TSC jurisdiction.
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The union argued that teaching conditions in these regions continue to pose serious difficulties for educators.
“KUPPET national and branch leadership today declared the union’s total opposition to the reduction of hardship zones under the Teachers Service Commission. The union will fight for the retention of all the 44 hardship areas recognized under the TSC operations,” Akello Missori declared.
Rather than scaling back, the union is advocating for the immediate gazettement of additional hardship areas as endorsed by Parliament. These include Chepalungu, Chonyi, Nyatike West, Nyatike North and South, Rachuonyo North, Mwala, and Kalama sub-counties — all locations where teachers reportedly continue to operate under harsh and demanding conditions.
A KUPPET official stated that these areas had already been discussed and validated through the necessary channels, and the Ministry’s reluctance to formalize them was unwarranted. Another union leader explained that teaching in these zones comes with unique and persistent challenges, which justify their classification as hardship areas.
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KUPPET leaders voiced their frustration at what they termed a step backward by the Ministry. “We are not going to allow the government to punish teachers by removing hardship benefits they truly deserve,” said one branch representative. Another teacher added, “We face daily struggles in these regions, and reducing the hardship list only adds insult to injury.”
In conclusion, the union maintains that the Ministry should not reduce the number of recognized hardship zones but rather act on parliamentary input and formally designate new ones to protect the welfare and rights of teachers working in difficult environments.
KUPPET Opposes Ministry’s Move to Slash Hardship Areas, Demands Inclusion of 8 Additional Zones.