Schools in Kenya face crisis as tutors begin strike

The public education system was plunged into a crisis after teachers began a strike to press the Government to honour a disputed 50-60 per cent salary increment.

Learning was paralysed in public primary and secondary schools across the country on the second day yesterday after the schools reopened for the third term.

Most secondary schools reopened yesterday and only head teachers were on duty.

Because of the uncertainty, some parents did not send their children to school and for those who did, they had to make do without their teachers who either stayed in staff rooms or didn't turn up in schools at all.

The chairman of the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA), Granton Mwaliko, urged the Government to immediately address the salary dispute to avert further disruption of learning in the country.

In Nairobi, there was low turnout at Jamhuri High School which reopened yesterday. Many Form Four students were left to learn on their own with learners in other classes opting to go back home.

D.E.B Karatina Primary School in Nyeri Head master Vincent Mwangi addresses pupils after teachers failed to report to school on September 1, 2015. Only school head master and five B.O.G teachers reported to school. (PHOTO: KIBATA KIHU/STANDARD)

Chief Principal David Kilonzi said most teachers in school were on other assignments.

"We have students who want to clear or parents who want to have one-on-one talks with teachers on their children's performance. But there is no learning," he said.

At Nairobi City and Moi Avenue Primary schools, a handful of pupils present were seen playing outside.

And at Kenyatta Primary School in Nakuru town, some class eight candidates were conducting revision of past papers on their own.

Belsy Jeruto, a candidate, said the strike might affect their preparation for final examination.

At Menengai High School and Langa Langa Secondary, students were also revising on their own.

In Machakos County, teachers also boycotted classes.

Machakos County Knut Executive Secretary Daniel Nginga claimed the teachers had gone to banks to check whether the money had been credited to their accounts.

Learning was also disrupted in several schools in Baringo, Laikipia and Nyandarua counties.

Parents who had dropped their children at public schools in Baringo had to pick them a few hours later.

Among the deserted public primary schools were Kapropita, Kabarnet's Visa Oshwal, Mumol, Marigat, Esageri, Sagasagik, Kaptimbor, among others.

And teachers from Laikipia gathered in several places in Nyahururu town to chart the way forward.

In Kakamega County, most schools also remained closed.

Schools in Navakholo, Malava, Mumias and in Kakamega town sent learners back home as teachers did not report to work.

In some schools, learners, especially candidates for national examinations, were forced to study on their own.

Pupils of Lwakhupa Primary in Navakholo played as there were no teachers. Shikoti Mixed Secondary School failed to open as did St Patrick's Ikonyero and Kakamega Primary.

In Bomet County, some schools turned away pupils and students at the gates.

In Bomet, Mulot, Ololulunga and Narok secondary school students were spotted on their way to their schools.

However, by midday most schools had been deserted as teachers sent the pupils home and left their stations.

A lethargic mood pervaded the teaching fraternity in most schools within Nyeri.

Many teachers who showed up at their work stations in public primary schools declined to teach and only gave assignments to their pupils.

Majority of the class eight pupils who spoke to The Standard implored the Government to respect the rule of law and expeditiously effect the teachers' pay rise as ordered by the court, adding their future was pegged on that.

In Karatina DEB Primary School, only five teachers hired by the BoM were available to attend to over 1,200 pupils.

In the North Rift, Knut branch officials instructed teachers to stay at home.

There was drama when a Knut official stormed a school in Eldoret and ordered a halt to the ongoing training conducted by trainers from Teachers Advisory Committee for over 30 Standard One teachers drawn from Wareng region.

Wareng Knut branch executive secretary John Boor ordered the education officials to cancel the training and let the teachers go home.

In Turkana, teachers kept away from both primary and secondary schools as union officials ensured that students who had earlier reported to school went back.

The region KNUT official Tony Ewoton said teachers should wait for the top union's leadership directive on the way forward.

Teachers from primary and secondary schools in Tana River and Taita Taveta counties joined colleagues countrywide in boycotting classes.