By Reporter
The Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers have called on the national government to increase salaries for its members and improve their working conditions.
Secretary General of KUSNET James Torome said that the special needs teachers are in need of Sh. 5 billion to achieve the education goals of special needs learners in the country.
Speaking in Kilifi town when meeting union members from the region Torome said that the department is currently understaffed.
He said thatΒ is need to employ an extra 5,000 teachers on top of the current 7,600 to handle special need learners across the country.
βThe Sh. 10,000 salary has stayed for too long and that is why we want the government to increase the salaries to at least Sh. 20,000 for each special needs education teacher in the country,β he said adding that βWe are also requesting the government to hasten employment and deployment of at least 5,000 teachers to special needs schools in the countryβ.
His sentiments were echoed by Second Trustee to the national committee of KUSNET Charity Machocho who said that the cost of living was rising and the Sh. 10,000 salary is too little to match the current inflation.
βThe cost of living is rising each day and the Sh. 10, 000 salary is too little for our members. I urge Members of the National Assembly to consider raising allocation to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) meant for salaries for our members in the 2024/2025 budget from the current Sh. 1 billion to Sh. 5 billion,β she said.
