NAIROBI: Although the Industrial Court's order ended the two-week teachers' strike that saw Government-sponsored schools re-open late, students and parents in the northern parts of the country are still a worried lot.
Those who live in Mandera, Garrisa and Wajir still face uncertainties over the resumption of schooling in most parts of the area as most teachers are yet to report for duty because they fear for their safety.
Teachers deployed to the area have camped at the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) headquarters in Nairobi, demanding transfers to areas considered safer.
In looking out for the teachers and civil servants, their respective trade unions have backed the demands for transfers to other areas.
We all want to work in areas where we feel safe.
This is why we feel for the teachers who are requesting transfers to 'safer areas' and this is why the Government must intervene, not only by giving assurances about security but also by being more proactive.
This matter is made all the more urgent considering that the areas teachers want to move from are also part of Kenya, and are considered jurisdictions where they can be rightfully deployed by their employer.
That they are reluctant to return exposes harshly the plight of children in northern Kenya who are largely dependent on the teachers' expertise and dedication to duty in order to raise the prospects of this region that remains marginalised.
That is why Kenyans of goodwill, and several religious organisations that do not subscribe to the extremist views propagated by Al-Shabaab insurgents, have appealed to the teachers to return to work.
Towards the end of last year, Mandera and Wajir were hit by a wave of insecurity. In an attack on a bus, more than 28 people, most of them teachers, were killed.
Ten days after this unfortunate incident, another attack saw the killing of 36 quarry workers by the insurgents.
These senseless killings based on misplaced beliefs saw teachers and other civil servants, mostly non-Muslim, pack their bags and flee, vowing never to return.
While it is somewhat reassuring that Cabinet Secretary for Interior Joseph Nkaissery has cited improved security and guaranteed safety as reasons why the teachers should return to their stations, it appears there are other long-standing issues that ought to be addressed before they are appeased enough to go back to class.
Some of the issues raised require the attention of the county governments.
One is that non-Muslim teachers have for a long time had to pay very high rent compared to their Muslim counterparts.
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This type of segregation based on religion does not augur well for mutual trust and dedication to duty.
Another is that some residential areas are said to restrict the rights of tenants by applying a subdued version of Islamic law that bars anything Christian and limits the freedom of movement and association.
Besides these restrictions, non-Muslim teachers claim they don't stand a chance of rising to head any of the local schools and that promotions are hard to come by.
Besides security, these are genuine concerns that must be addressed to reassure teachers that all is well.
Other national leaders - both elected and appointed - must come alongside Nkaissery to ensure that the overall welfare of all civil servants working in these areas is guaranteed and safeguarded.
Unfortunately, the peace and quiet that the country has experienced over the last few months is no longer a guarantee that everything is as it should be.