Anxiety as teachers' strike only hours away

Confusion and uncertainty now engulfs the re-opening of schools amid an anticipated paralysis to teaching and learning.

This is thanks to an impending teachers' strike only hours to tomorrow's re-opening date.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Education announced that billions had been wired to schools for the third term. Cabinet Secretary Julius Migosi said some Sh21.8 billion had been released in readiness for school opening.

He said some Sh14.1 billion would cater for free day schools and another Sh6.1 billion for free day junior school education.

He further said Sh1.6 billion had been released for free primary education.

"The release of capitation funds before that the start of the new school term will facilitate seamless resumption of activities in the new term," said Migosi.

This means that the re-opening schedules remain unchanged.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) are however digging in, pushing on with the planned strike action.

KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori said the union's national executive board, a top governance organ in the union, resolved to continue with the planned strike

"The meeting resolved that the strike is on as planned and the union will continue to mobilise its members towards its success as teachers press for their labour rights," the statement by KUPPET reads.

This comes despite intervention by the President, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migosi and the Teachers Service Commission to avert the strike.

TSC announced that some Sh13 billion had been released to fully implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the period 2021-2025.

This is one of the demands of the unions, pitched as grounds for industrial action.

Among the unresolved demands are the immediate confirmation of 46,000 intern teachers into permanent and pensionable employment, the promotion of 130,000 stagnated teachers and the recruitment of 20,000 new teachers for junior secondary schools.

Unions also want the immediate remittance of all third-party deductions, and a commitment to start talks on the new CBA.

Misori urged its members to participate actively in the strike, emphasising the importance of unity in their fight for better working conditions.

The union's national governing council, its top-most organ, will also meet on Sunday, August 25, to discuss the strike's strategy and mobilise support. A special national executive council meeting called by Knut was abruptly postponed to today, further fuelling anxiety among parents and learners.

Meanwhile, The Sunday Standard has established that several schools ordered students to report back to school on Saturday and Sunday.

With third term being the shortest school term, various stakeholders fear that the strike could have a far-reaching impact on preparations for the final examinations.

Stakeholders indicate that the strike is expected to lead to lesson cuts as they re-open.

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

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

"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.

Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu said the remedial programmes are expected to elevate pressure and workload for non-unionised and BOM teachers.

Private schools will remain unaffected by the strike, with teaching and learning set to begin tomorrow when schools re-open.

Charles Ochome, the Kenya Private Schools Association chairman, said the institutions operate independently from the government-run institutions and thus teaching and learning is set to continue.

All eyes are on Cabinet secretaries John Mbadi (Treasury), Alfred Mutua (Labour) and Julius Migos (Education), following President Ruto's directive that they sit with the unions and address the issues raised.