Solve North Eastern tutors impasse, State told

Head teachers sample books from Longhorn Publishers during the Lake Region Kenya Primary Schools Head Teachers Association annual general meeting at Nyamasaria Primary School. [PHOTO: TITUS MUNALA/STANDARD]

Teachers from Nyanza have asked the Government to move fast and resolve the stalemate on teachers who have refused to return to work in North Eastern over insecurity reasons.

Over 1,200 head teachers meeting at Nyamasaria Primary School, Kisumu, to assess the gains made in 2014 and the challenges affecting local schools also requested the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) to put more effort in finding a quick solution to the stalemate.

“We expect Knut to pursue the matter further so that an agreement beneficial to the two parties can be reached,” said the region’s Kenya Primary School Heads Association (Kepsha) chairman, Shem Ndolo.

The teachers drawn from Kisii, Nyamira, Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay and Siaya counties spoke at the start of a three-day conference during which they are also expected to discuss the region’s performance in the national exams.

The meeting comes in the wake of a stand-off pitting teachers who used to work in Wajir, Mandera and Garissa counties and their employer, TSC.

The affected teachers have been pushing for transfers to safer regions through Knut, but TSC has remained adamant that they must resume duty at their previous work stations, or be sacked.

FAMILIES AFFECTED

Mr Ndolo said some teachers drawn from Kisii and Siaya counties were affected during the Mandera bus attack, which claimed 28 lives. Eight families were affected by the incident in Kisii.

Some of the head teachers who spoke to The Standard protested the delay by the Government to release funds for Free Primary Education. They said the delay is likely to paralyse learning in some schools.

“The Government should increase the allocations and ensure they are disbursed on time to facilitate smooth operations in schools,” said Ndolo.

Ndolo hailed what he referred to as a reduction of sexual assault cases involving teachers and pupils in the region, but at the same time stated his organisation would not tolerate teachers accused of sexually molesting their pupils.

“A teacher who falls culprit will carry his own cross. As heads, we are mandated to report such cases to relevant authorities. But the cases have significantly reduced due to the ongoing sex education in schools,” he said.

John Orinda of Ongoro Primary School, Homa Bay, said schools from the region had recorded remarkable academic improvement.

“As heads, we have been getting together to share professional experiences and also develop strategies to enhance academic excellence,” he said.

Meanwhile, about 600 retired teachers from Migori County have asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and help them get their retirement benefits. The retirees who are following their case filed against TSC, requested the President to help resolve the issue.