Anxiety among KCSE candidates and parents as teachers stay put

 

Uasin Gishu High School students in Eldoret walk out of school after they were forced by Kuppet teachers to leave the compound on August 28, 2024. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

Candidates preparing for this year's Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination have been hit hard as the secondary school teacher's strike entered day three yesterday.

While some students have resorted to learning on their own in school, others remain at home.

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Teachers (Kuppet) has maintained that members would not resume teaching until the government meets their demands.

In Eldoret, striking teachers yesterday invaded UG High School, ejected teachers from classes before ordering learners to leave the compound.

At the Kisumu City main bus park, many students were seen heading home after they were released by their institutions, while others claimed they had been turned back by the guards.

In some schools, only a few board of management teachers and volunteers are keeping operations running as Form Four students struggle to complete syllabuses.

In the Coast and Western region, several schools sent learners home as the strike entered its third day.

A student at the Shimo la Tewa High School in Mombasa, where learners were sent home, said the strike would affect their preparations for the national exams.

A watchman at the school said with over 400 candidates, the number of BoM teachers was too small to handle them.

Gibson Mwaluma, a parent at Dr Aggrey High School in Taita Taveta County, said the candidates were bearing the brunt of the strike.

However, he said Form Four students were still in the school and preparing for the KCSE, scheduled for October 22 to November 1.

In Kilifi, candidates at the Kiwandani Secondary School have formed discussion groups.

One of them expressed fears that the strike would affect their performance since they are yet to cover syllabuses in most subjects.

“Being a day scholar, we go to school for group discussions with my classmates. We are still lagging in most of our subjects. I hope this strike will end soon,” said Jane Kenga.

Elizabeth Ngowa, a parent, expressed fears that her son might not get good grades. ''He is in a boarding school. He reported to the school, however, we talked yesterday and they are alone."

Dishonest government

The county Kuppet secretary, Caleb Mogere, yesterday said: "The government is not honest because Parliament set aside Sh18 billion for employment of intern teachers on permanent terms but now they are telling us that there is no money,” he said.

In Rift Valley, students in most schools opted to return home on their own as teachers took to the streets.

Outraged parents demanded the government to keep its promise for learning to resume. 

Some of the students interviewed said urged the teachers to dialogue with the Teachers Service Commission.

“In all this mess, the students are the biggest losers. We will waste a lot of time at home. As you are aware, there is not much learning that can be done at home,” said Ruth Cheruiyot, a student at a Nakuru secondary school.

She spoke as Kuppet members in the county protested along the Kenyatta Avenue, saying the court has been used by the government and the TSC to intimidate teachers.

Branch secretary, Duncan Macharia, also blamed the government for disobeying court orders.

In Naivasha Sub-County, learning in public secondary schools was paralyzed for the third day.

Despite the government releasing Sh13.5 billion to settle the salary increase arrears, the teachers continued with their strike.

National Parents Association Secretary General Eskimos Kobia said the impasse could adversely affect the national exams. He accused the government of failing to keep its promise.

“We have done a survey, which indicates that teachers in all public secondary schools have kept away from classes, leading to more suffering for students,” he said.

Kobia added that schools were yet to get capitation, leading to a financial crisis as suppliers sought payments. “Even if teachers go back to classes, there will be little to do as there are no learning materials and food for the students,” he said.

A parent, James Mwai, said he had been forced to collect his son from one of the schools in Gilgil.

“We have paid the full school fees for the third term yet there is no learning and this is very unfair,” he said.

Undeterred teachers

In Kericho County, secondary school teachers drawn from 200 schools across the six sub-counties boycotted classes.

Undeterred by the police presence, they proceeded from Moi Gardens, underscoring their determination to have their demands met.

In Nyandarua, learning in many secondary schools has also been paralysed.

Similarly, in Nyanza and Western, learners said they were uncertain about their future ahead of the national exams, and criticised the government for failing to end the stalemate.

Homa Bay Kuppet secretary, Stephen Yogo, chairman, Jack Okoth and treasurer, Beatrice Awiti, led members in demonstrations.

In Murang’a, most students are studying on their own, save for a few schools with BoM teachers.

Branch secretary, Mburu Mwangi, led protests as teachers chanted anti-government slogans.

Report by Renson Mnyamwezi, Marion Kithi, Niko Tanui, Daniel Chege, James Munyeki, Phares Mutembei, Boniface Gikandi, Peter Ochieng and Antony Gitonga