Education CS silent as teachers, lecturers threaten to strike

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migosi when he was sworn in as the CS. [PCS]

The newly appointed Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos is on the spot as crisis looms in the sector.

The two teachers' unions have called a nationwide strike when schools open for the third term in one week while university workers have also threatened to down tools in September.

The twin threats by sector players pose a threat to the smooth running of the education calendar but Migos has remained mum even as the unions dig in.

On Thursday, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) issued a seven-day strike notice, which could result in shut down of schools for the third term.

The lapse of the strike notice coincides with the school opening scheduled for August 26.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) is expected to also formally issue a strike notice Friday.

The teacher's unions have listed several grievances and they have also roped in Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua.

In a petition to Dr Mutua, Kuppet and Knut listed the plight of Junior Secondary School teachers (JSS), increased salaries as outlined in the collective agreement (CBA) and employment of additional teachers.

The unions last week jointly outlined grievances they want to be resolved before returning to class.

These include salary increases, improved working conditions, and the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The impending strike poses a threat to the school calendar and will be the third major disruption to schools this year, following floods and anti-government protests.

But even as pressure mounts, Migos remains quiet.

“The CS comes to the ministry when we have very many issues, but the buck stops with him and we call upon him to work with the employer TSC to look into the issues raised,” Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori said.

Misori said that the union has given the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) seven days to resolve the issues raised.

The University Academic Staff Union (Uasu), issued a strike notice on Wednesday, citing concerns over job security and working conditions.

With schools and universities set to reopen in the coming weeks, the CS must address the grievances to prevent a shutdown of the basic and higher education institutions.

The strike threats also pose a significant challenge to Migos, who must find a way to balance the demands of the teachers' unions with the government's financial constraints and the needs of students.

With a week left to reopen schools and a fortnight to reopen universities, the CS faces his first major challenge in the education sector.

Misori on Thursday said that the union’s irreducible minimums include the immediate employment of intern teachers on permanent and pensionable terms effective 1 July 2024 and the recruitment of 20,000 teachers to address the huge deficit in JSS.

He revealed that the union will push for a post-graduate allowance for teachers who are holders of Master’s and PhD degrees irrespective of their positions in service."

If teachers make good their strike threat, it could have far-reaching consequences for students preparing for national examinations and assessments.

Kuppet and Knut have also accused TSC of failing to implement salary increments as agreed upon in the 2021-2025 CBA. 

The unions have raised concerns over the teachers' medical coverage, the lack of progress in negotiations for a new CBA, and the government's failure to address the shortage of teachers in JSS.