Parents condemn teachers' strike plan scheduled for tomorrow

National Association of Parents (NAP) chairman Nicholas Maiyo. [File, Standard]

Parents have condemned a planned strike by teachers, which is scheduled to begin tomorrow.

National Association of Parents (NAP) yesterday termed the strike as rushed, irrational, untenable and insensitive to the needs of children.

“We condemn the latest strike action by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), which has mobilizsed its members countrywide to join in the industrial action starting tomorrow,” said NPA chairman Nicholas Maiyo.

He said issues Knut cited when calling for the strike were already being addressed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) as well as the ministries of Education and Labour, and whose progress is good.

“The union has been an active participant in these deliberations and should be fair by allowing the process to continue to its logical conclusion,” Maiyo said.

He said the union officials should also consider the Constitution that provides, not only for their members’ rights to fair labour relations but also to children’s rights to quality education, care and protection.

“The same Constitution and various statutes, including the Public Finance Management Act, 2012, the Labour Relations Act, 2007 and other laws prohibit this particular strike that the union has planned,” said Maiyo.

He said NPA appreciates the fact that teachers are critical players in the education sector and they deserve fair labour terms and remuneration.

“We have been at the forefront fighting to ensure teachers are respected and their rights protected because to us, they are the most critical resource in the sector. We are however protesting the conservative, rigid tradition by Knut to call for a strike every now and then,” Maiyo said.

He added: “The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers has, in its wisdom, pursued the avenue of amicable resolution to these matters. We laud them and promise to stand by them in their engagements with TSC.”

“Meanwhile, we ask our members to take their children to school on the opening day."