Confusion reigns as teachers stay away

Pupils of D.E.B Muslim Primary School in Nyeri play during a tea break on August 31, 2015. Normal learning resumed in many schools in the County despite a presumed strike by teachers. PHOTO: KIBATA KIHU/STANDARD

The third leg of Kenya's school calendar kicked off to a tumultuous start as majority of teachers stayed out of public schools to protest the Government's failure to effect the much-anticipated salary hike.

The Standard team found that in Laikipia, the teachers defied a directive by the Teachers Service Commission to report to work and instead converged in Nyahururu town where they held meetings.

Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Laikipia Branch Executive Secretary Ndung'u Wangenye said the union would ensure that teaching in the entire county was paralysed.

The situation was the same in Uasin Gishu County where there was minimal turn-up of pupils in schools.

At Uasin Gishu Primary School, less than 100 pupils reported out of the 1,600 expected as there was uncertainty over the outcome of the clamour for teachers' pay rise.

Paul Boit Boys Principal William Kemei said they anticipate opening today and expressed optimism the Government will finally release the funds as directed by the Supreme Court. "The Government has no other option, such delays would have been avoided had it taken a positive gesture in awarding teachers their funds even if it meant working in phases," said Kemei.

In Embu, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Executive Secretary John Gitari and Kuppet branch chairman Anthony Kinyua said the teachers were expecting nothing other than the pay increase or result to mass action.

Mr Gitari said the Budget Committee had the ability to recover money to pay the teachers by "raiding various accounts that were not a priority".

Elsewhere in Mombasa most schools opened but teachers did not teach and union officials told The Standard that they were waiting for communication from union headquarters in Nairobi to decide on the next course of action.

Officials in the Taita Taveta County said secondary schools did not open.

A Standard Seven pupil at Gome Primary School, Richard Amwayi said: "I pity Standard Eight candidates who are preparing for national examinations. If teachers make good their intentions to down tools, it will not be good for them."

The Education Officer of Taveta sub-County, George Awuoche, said some primary school teachers stayed away from institutions.

A spot check by The Standard in Kisumu showed that some pupils in primary schools had reported to school.

At Arya Primary School, the pupils were settled and ready to resume learning. But, the head teacher, John Mark Ouma, said out of the 1,972 student population, they had barely received half on the opening day.

"We did not have time to clear parts of last term's syllabus because this time round we did not have holiday tuition. Therefore, we would not wish for any interruptions once again because that would mean less time to prepare candidates," said Mr Ouma.

Kisumu Day High School experienced little activity as only boarders were reporting yesterday.

But the head teacher Gordon Muga said when the students report, learning will be as usual since neither have they received communicated from the unions nor have they received any circular from TSC on the strike.

Teachers in Kakamega County kept off classrooms paralysing learning in public schools.

A visit to several schools in the county revealed that despite learners reporting back to school for the third term few teachers reported to school and those ones did not teach.

David Ikunza, the head teacher of Kakamega Primary School said: "Teachers have vowed to wait for Knut to give them direction before they go to class to teach."

At Mahiakalo Primary School, there was a low pupil turnout. Parents were reluctant to take their children to school saying it will be a waste of time and money.

"I will have wasted my money by taking my child to school then he is sent back home because of the strike. I will have to wait until Wednesday (tomorrow) if the strike will have been called off," said Brian Owino, a parent in Kakamega.

Despite teachers reporting back to school, there was no learning.

"We are setting a keen eye on our bank accounts and we have even set alarms so that at midnight if we do not have our money we will not be seen next to the school compound," said a teacher.

Meanwhile, parents in Nakuru have asked teachers to give the Government time to sort out the pay dispute and report on duty for the third term.

Timothy Sawe, a retired school principal from Kuresoi sub-County, said although teachers have been fighting for a pay rise for long, they should report to work as the Government find a proper strategy on this.

"It is unfair for teachers to take to industrial action. It is a win for them but they should give Government enough time to remit the money," said Sawe.

A spot check by The Standard in various public schools revealed teachers were in schools performing duties as they wait for official communication from their union officials.

Teachers interviewed said although they had reported to school as it was an official school opening day, they might be forced to paralyse learning today.

"Majority of parents did not send their children to school due to uncertainty over reopening of schools," said Richard Macharia, Lanet Primary School headteacher.

At Lenana Primary, about half of a total population of 460 had reported to school.

Teachers at Nakuru Girls and Nakuru Boys high schools were holding staff meetings as students are expected to report today after the August holidays.

Engineer Charles Ochome, the chairman of Kenya Private Schools Association, said every Kenyan is subject to the rule of law and therefore the Government must implement the court order.

show unwillingness

However, in some parts of the country, teachers reported for duty as normal.

The Voi Education Officer Kennedy Machora said all teachers reported to their respective schools and learning went on uninterrupted. "Schools reopened for the third term and learning is going on. I have gone round all the schools and learning is still going on," he said.

Learning in public primary schools resumed normally in Nyeri County. Only a section of teachers stayed away from classes insisting they would report for duty only after the Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion gave the word.

The area Knut Secretary General Kahiga Mutahi criticised the Government for its unwillingness to pay teachers their rightful 50-60 per cent pay increment.

"What is good for the goose is good for the gander. They should have the decency to honour the court order and stop dilly-dallying because we have beaten them hands down in all the instances we have been in the corridors of justice. Who asked them to take us to court in the first place?" asked Mr Mutahi.