State must demonstrate greater resolve in handling teachers’ crisis

There are no two ways about the teachers’ pay standoff. The government must bite the bullet and address itself to it. The legality or otherwise of the strike is a matter before the court but the pay hike ruling cannot be wished away. The government must burn the midnight oil to seek a solution, or risk plunging learning in schools into a crisis.

The Cabinet has a collective responsibility to address the crisis. Let’s face it. The TSC chair or the Cabinet Secretary in the ministry do not demonstrate the drive or passion to provide leadership in this matter. They both seem unconvincing, somewhat arrogant and plainly clueless on what to do.

I do not know what the government intends to achieve by issuing threats and intimidation to force teachers into the classrooms. The threat of sacking, or pay stoppage may push some back to schools but will they have the motivation to teach? Highly unlikely! Claims by TSC that many schools are in session are delusive attempts to pull wool over our eyes that all is well. Far from it, there is no learning going on in schools.

What is not clear about the government’s position is that it simply does not have one; just a hotchpotch of contradictions. It has variously stated that it does not want to pay because it will incite other public sectors to demand more pay. It has also stated that it simply does not have the money to pay. It has argued that they teachers do not deserve it. Other statements have also been made that it is unconstitutional because SRC is the one to determine pay, not the courts. The SRC boss has outrageously claimed that if this court order is implemented, there would be no money for development, and hence no need for the government to be in place.

All these narratives portray a disconnect in the government, pointing to a lack of commitment, and even more seriously a lack of leadership on the matter.

Do teachers deserve it? The court has determined that they do, after examining representations by both the employer and the employees in the protracted dispute. We have no reason to doubt our courts capacity to grasp the import of its decisions. As ordinary Kenyans, we are also aware that our teachers in public primary and secondary schools are paid pretty low salaries, relative to other public servants with similar qualifications, training and experience. Moreover, it is in the public domain that the government has given one unfulfilled pledge after another over the last decade.

Does the state have resources to meet the pay increase? Yes it does! If it decides that our children’s learning is a priority, the money can be readily found in our current budget without disrupting its operations. The National Assembly and Treasury can immediately defer certain expenditures in the budget, and provide for the court order. Then, pay the teachers and regularise the changes in the supplementary budget as they often do. The hullabaloo about high wage bill or other sectors demands is irrelevant in the execution of this court decision.

It seems the contention is not about whether teachers deserve the money, or the lack of it. The Executive is simply miffed by the court's decision to call the shots. This grandstanding will not help the nation. The buck stops with the President; he must take leadership and resolve the matter expeditiously.