Uncertainty over KCSE exams as teachers make good strike threat

There is uncertainty in the basic education sector following a declared industrial action for secondary school teachers and a back-to-school call for primary school teachers as learning institutions reopen for the third term today.

Questions surround the fate of this year’s national exams as teachers begin the strike paralysing teaching and learning at a time when candidates should be preparing for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

Primary and junior secondary schools got a reprieve at the eleventh hour after the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) called off its planned strike.

Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu yesterday said the decision was reached after the teacher’s employer showed a willingness to address their concerns.

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“The National Executive Council has therefore today agreed to withdraw the strike notice action that was lapsing today midnight (August 25). In light of the development, we direct our teachers to resume duty tomorrow August 26,” Oyuu said.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migosi expressed gratitude to the teachers and their leaders for prioritizing the best interests of learners.

The CS urged parents and guardians to ensure their children report to school as per the school calendar. The Ministry has already disbursed Sh21.8 billion as capitation to all basic education institutions to facilitate a smooth resumption of classes, said the CS.

“We are most grateful to our teachers and their leaders for their selfless act of patriotism, which prioritizes the best interest of learners,” Migosi said.  

The decision now clears the way for a smooth completion of the remaining part of the 2024 school calendar in primary and junior schools.

Despite the disruption in secondary schools affecting far fewer students than those in primary and junior secondary school, it will have far reaching consequences as the institution hosts the candidates for the high-stake KCSE exams.

The strike is the first after a decade of tranquility in the education sector and will affect some 965,501 candidates sitting exams in nine weeks.

There are questions about the impact the strike will have on preparations for exams. Also in question is the plan to compensate the lost learning time.

Knut’s Oyuu yesterday said the teacher’s employer had met three out of five demands that had triggered the strike notice.

The resolved demands include the implementation of the second phase of the 2021-2025 CBA, remittance of third-party deductions, promotion of teachers and sorting the stalemate between the teacher’s medical provider and service providers— hospitals— that were denying teachers medical services due to accumulated unpaid dues.

Oyuu said TSC had already set Sh13 billion for salary increment under the CBA and that the employer had so far paid the dues owed to from third party deductions such as loans and saccos.

“The second phase of the Salary Award for teachers was given and factored into their salaries in arrears for August 2024. This gives room for commencement of the CBA 2025/2029 cycle,” Oyuu said after meeting the National Executive Council, the union’s top decision-making organ.

He also indicated the employer had guaranteed teachers would get medical services in medical facilities of their choice.

On the promotion of teachers, he said that TSC had already promoted 51,232 teachers.

However, Knut threatened to activate the strike notice should the commission fail to address the pending promotion of 78,000 teachers who have stagnated in various job groups, delayed conversion of intern teachers serving junior secondary schools and the employment of 20,000 new teachers.

“You saw the CS Finance saying they don’t have money to confirm teachers and employ new ones, but then the chairman of the budget committee said they have allocated Sh18 billion for the same function, so which is the position?” Oyuu said.

With the third term being the shortest school term, stakeholders are concerned the strike could have far-reaching implications on preparations for exams.

National Parents Association chairman Silas Obuhatsa said some schools have asked parents to contribute to remedial and tuition programs that will run during the strike period.

The programs, he says, will be necessary to cover learning areas, especially for candidates who only have nine weeks before they start their exams.

“In schools that I have had the chance to interact with parents, they have indicated that they were informed that BoM and non-unionised teachers will be used to cover for the striking teachers,” Obuhatsa said.

Meanwhile, The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) announced that the teachers’ strike will continue.

Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori said the decision to strike was made following an endorsement by the National Governing Council in Nairobi earlier yesterday.

“The organ has decided that teachers will withhold labour and ensure that no learning takes place in their jurisdiction,” he said.

National chairman Omboko Milemba said the decision was unanimous among the union’s delegates.

“TSC has not listened to teachers’ plight, and we now declare officially from midnight today,” said Milemba.

Misori said even after meeting TSC, the commission was non-committal on addressing the issue affecting teachers.

“Even taking time to note that this was a crucial meeting we left there without signing any document,” Misori added.

The union’s words reflect the frustration of many teachers who believe their grievances have been ignored for too long.

Despite promises of Sh13.3 billion for the full implementation of the second phase of the amended Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), teachers remain skeptical.

“They promised to allocate Sh13.3 billion on CBA, but that has not been reflected in teachers’ pay slips,” he lamented.

With 46,000 interns awaiting permanent status and 130,000 teachers seeking promotion, the tension between the teachers and TSC has reached a boiling point.