Teachers keep off classes as strike enters the second day

NAIROBI: Public primary and secondary schools across the country remained deserted Tuesday as teachers’ nationwide strike entered the second day.

A spot check by The Standard in most schools at the Coast revealed that no learning was going on.

In the meantime, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Kilindini branch executive secretary Dan Aloo termed as uncouth an announcement by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) that teachers would not be paid for the days they will not work.

“It is wrong and such acts will never coerce us into submission. We will soldier on until we get our rightful dues,’’ Mr Aloo said.

At Amani Primary School in Mikindani, Jomvu constituency, only a handful of Early Childhood Education pupils were in class.

 NO LEARNING

“There is no learning going on here. I am here in my capacity as the school manager just to ensure 2014 candidates get their result slips and the school property is secure,” said head teacher Onesmus Mutia.

Kisumu County’s Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) office directed all school heads in the region to hand over the schools to the boards of management or face the wrath of teachers.

In a statement to media houses, Kuppet branch Chairman Zablon Awange said all teachers are to avoid accessing school compounds and congregate at the union offices for day-long picketing and demonstration in a bid to push the Government to act on the pay demand.

“The threats that the Government will withhold our salaries are common songs we are used to. The intimidation cannot deter us from demanding for our rights,” read the statement signed by Awange.

In Nakuru, Knut members defied orders by the Government to participate in the countrywide headcount.

 NO HEADCOUNT

The branch officials accused the Government of intimidating teachers by demanding a headcount in schools while they are pushing for their rights.

Branch Executive Secretary Njau Kuria said the approach had been used in the past and is aimed at deducting teachers’ salaries.

“The move to conduct headcount is a way of intimidating teachers by deducting their salaries and that is against the strike conditions,” Kuria said.

But the Murang’a Catholic Diocese has told striking teachers to soften their stance to enable the Government address their grievances without causing further suffering to children.

Diocesan Bishop Maria Wainana said the hefty salaries being demanded cannot be sustained, given the huge wage bill.

“Much as we sympathise with the plight of the teachers, they should also be able to understand how the economy of this country is, having come from the wounds of the post-election violence, a general election and the serious series of terror attacks,” he said.

Turkana County Knut secretary Tony Nasia called on the Government to act as fast as possible to increase the salaries so that pupils can return to school soon.

“The Government has for a long time promised to increase our remuneration but has done nothing. We are on strike 100 per cent and the only organ that can change this is the Government,” said Mr Nasia.

In Elgeyo Marakwet County, teachers kept off classes and some pupils opted to play while other learning institutions remained closed.

Local Knut executive secretary Barnabas Lagat said the strike was 100 per cent successful and asked teachers to remain steadfast in their quest until the Government heeds to their demand for pay hike.

“I am asking parents not to send their children to school because it would be a waste of time as our teachers will not go into the classes,” said the Knut official.

In Taita-Taveta County, more than 2,500 primary and secondary school teachers in the region ignored the court order not to participate in the strike. Only head teachers reported to their respective schools.

Voi District Education Officer Kennedy Machora said students and teachers in primary and secondary schools were not in classes.

Knut Teso branch said its members won’t relent in their quest for better remuneration even as public schools in the area remained closed.

In some schools, such as Amoni, Amagoro, Angorom, and St Joseph primary school in Busia, pupils who reported in the morning returned home since there were no teachers.

Addressing the press in Knut offices at Amagoro in Teso North sub-county, the branch Executive secretary Deogratius Owaya reiterated that teachers in the area would not go back to class until the Government heeds to their salary demands.

Embu Woman Representative Rose Mitaru appealed to teachers to call off the ongoing strike so that they do not punish innocent children.

Speaking in Kiritiri town, Ms Mitaru, who is a member of the National Assembly Committee on Education, said the strike was not in the best interests of the children and urged teachers to agree to dialogue with the Government.

Meanwhile in Migori, local leaders and parents threatened to join the striking teachers for mass action tomorrow if the Government fails to resolve the crisis.

Oruba-Ragana ward representative Hezron Okelo threatened to mobilise parents and all local leaders to join teachers on strike for the Government to see the seriousness of it.

Stories by Joseph Muchiri, Mercy Kahenda, Kevine Omollo, Jane Cherotich, Renson Mnyamwezi, Philip Mwakio, Munene Kamau, Kassim Adinasi, Fred Kibor and Joan Letting