Libraries bearing brunt of strike

When teachers went on strike three weeks ago to press the Government to implement a 1997 pay hike agreement, many believed the industrial action would end within a few days.

Three weeks on, there is no sign of the strike ending soon and its effects are beginning to bite.

Anxious parents have been forced to devise ways of keeping their children engaged during the day as the strike has completely paralysed learning in public schools.

Unbearable levels

Library services in Nairobi Country are the most hit by the strike as pupils who should be in school are opting to go and read in the libraries instead of idling away their time at home.

The situation is so bad that pupils have to wake up very early to get a seat in the libraries because of the huge numbers that are turning up.

 At the Kenya National Library situated in Buruburu Estate, long queues in the morning have become a common sight as pupils wait for it to opened and be among the few who can get seats to read and revise.

Once inside the library, those who cannot find seats have to sit at the isles, stairs or on the floor so long as they find space to read.

Negative effect

According to Deputy Librarian John Tanui, they are receiving about 3,000 pupils everyday and the situation has stretched their services and staff to unbearable levels.

“When seated, the library can hold up to 500 people, but on some days we are receiving up to 3,000, most who are students. We do not chase anybody away but try to accommodate them as much as possible.

“The staff are overstretched and on many occasions we do not go for lunch because our services are needed,” he said in an interview at the facility.

When schools are closed, Buruburu library normally serves about 1,500 pupils per day but since the teachers strike began the number has doubled and it could go even higher if it persists.

Tanui said this congestion is beginning to affect them negatively as the wear and tear on the books becomes worse.

“Because of the frequent usage, the books are getting worn out faster,” he explained.

Forced to the isles

Darrellsug Kipngetich, a Form Three student at the Moi Forces Academy is one of those who are normally forced to sit on the isle while carrying out his revision but he did not seem to mind so long as he can read his books.

“Every time I come late to the Library, I find all the seats having been taken up and so I am forced to sit on the isle but I don’t mind, it does not matter as long as I have somewhere to sit and read. It helps me to catch up with pending work.

Grace Wangari, a Standard Seven pupil at Buruburu One Primary School said she has given up on going to the library because she has to wake up very early in order to get a seat inside the facility.

“The few times I have gone to the library, I was forced to sit on the aisle and it interferes with my concentration so I have opted to carry out my revision at home,” she said.

The congestion is also being experienced at the Kenya National Library located in Community where Chief Librarian Beatrice Macharia says they have to attend to more than 300 children every day.

“On a normal school day we get less than 20 school children per day although the number is higher during school holidays but now it has gone up to 300 and we are finding it difficult to cope,” she said.

Expand capacity

Just like in Buruburu Macharia says they do not send away any one and try as much as possible to handle the huge numbers.

“We have had to come up with creative ways of dealing with the huge numbers and sometimes we come up with indoor games or organise for competitions when we realize that they cannot effectively use the library because of their high numbers,” she explained.

The Community based library is currently under renovation to expand its capacity. The teachers’ strike began on September 3 when the new term was supposed to start.

Teachers are demanding a 300 per cent pay hike which the Government is unwilling to give.