Children turn to trade as teachers’ strike bites

Children hawk mangoes at Akala Market in Gem Constituency. Parents have taken advantage of the teachers’ strike to delegate some of their duties to their children. [PHOTOS: TITUS MUNALA/STANDARD]

KISUMU: Nyanza parents have called upon President Uhuru Kenyatta to recall National Assembly to deliberate on the ongoing teachers’ strike which has paralysed learning in all public schools.

The parents say if allowed to continue, the strike is likely to negatively affect learners’ academic progress because they are idle and might be tempted to engage in harmful activities.

Nyanza Parents Association Chairman Jackson Ogweno said most learners are roaming in towns, which exposes them to abuse.

“With the teachers’ strike entering the fourth day, school children are getting new roles in the village, a situation we feel could affect them academically,” said Ogweno.

He added: “In most cases Parliament has been recalled from their comfort zones to deliberate weighty matters which affect the state such as this (strike) and this is the honourable thing the President ought to do, but if that is impossible let the Government declare education a failed sector in the country.”

A spot check by The Standard revealed that several learners have taken up roles of fending for their families while others are idling at home.

The teachers’ strike seems to have become a big relief to some parents and guardians who have delegated some of their duties to their children.

A 12-year-old Standard Four pupil at Kambudi Primary School in Seme, has become a familiar figure along the Kisian-Bondo road where he crushes stones to make ballast.

HAWKING MANGOES

His mother Jane Auma depends on stone crushing as the family’s main source of income.

According to  Auma, the boy, who is her third born child, often helps her during school holidays and has mastered the art. He loves to help the mother out and sometimes goes to the site even without her directing him to do so.

“It is sad to have the children at home when it is time for school but since we have no control over it, we just have to engage the children while at home to help us as we have other duties to attend to,” said Auma.

At Akala shopping centre in Siaya County, school going children are hawking mangoes to travellers in matatus which ply the Kisumu-Bondo route.

Mary Atieno, one of the businesswomen at the centre, expressed fear that the influx of children engaging in business at the centre is not only a threat to their businesses but also dangerous for the children.

“There are so many vehicles and some children are not very careful. I agree that children must support their parents while free from school but they should be engaged in domestic chores which are not as dangerous,” said Atieno.

Since teachers commenced the nationwide strike on January 5, little has been asked about the whereabouts of children who were supposed to be in school at this time of the year.

However, Kisumu County Director of Education Sylvester Mulambe has blamed parents over the mess, and accused them of failure to listen to the Government. He said school heads who are not supposed to be on strike are in schools full time and are ready to help the children as negotiations over the strike continue.

“The Government has reiterated to parents that they take the children to school while the teachers unions have told them not to, so it determines whom they listen to. We are taking care of the children in school and it is upon the parents to take care of them when they are not in school,” said Mulambe.