Parents ignore teachers’ strike notice and send children to school

A parent escorts her daughter to Kisumu Girls High School, Sunday Schools reopen for ?rst term today after Christmas holiday. [PHOTO: COLLINS ODUOR/STANDARD]

KISUMU COUNTY: Parents in Kisumu have defied the teachers' strike threat and were Sunday sending their children to school for the first term. 

Kisumu's main bus terminus was Sunday teeming with students travelling to different parts of the country in what was seen as defiance of the strike notice by parents.

Bookshops, supermarkets and uniform outlets were full of parents and students who were shopping for requirements as schools reopen Monday after the long December holiday.

The Chairman of Nyanza Parents Association Jackson Ogweno Sunday condemned the planned teachers' strike and urged parents to take their children to school.

Disrupt learning

Mr Ogweno said the parents had invested a lot in educating their children and would not wish to have their learning disrupted any longer.

"Teachers must embrace dialogue for the benefit of the children. The frequent strikes are not healthy for the country's education agenda," said Ogweno.

However, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), Kisumu County branch, Sunday reaffirmed the strike notice, saying teachers were not ready to receive learners.

In a statement sent to media houses, branch chairman Zablon Owange said the union's decision for teachers to down their tools was still on adding that parents were sending their children to school at their own risk.

Kuppet notice

Owange said Kuppet's national office directive on the strike was still on and Kisumu teachers were keen on holding on to it.

"As Kisumu teachers, we are ready for the strike and we fully support the national office. We will not accept compromise from the national office and therefore they have to insist on getting the teachers' demands before we can get back to classes," said Owange.

The teachers are asking for a 200 per cent salary increment. Several negotiations between the union and the Government have flopped as the union accuses the State of not being ready to presented a favourable offer.

Kisumu teachers have also threatened to disrupt the Form One selection planned to start on January 20 if their salary demands are not met.