Let reason prevail in teachers’ pay dispute

Schools countrywide are expected to open this week for the third and final term this year. However, the smooth start to a new academic term is clouded with uncertainty as a result of a standoff between teachers and the Government over pay.

Already, the teachers have vowed to go on strike beginning Monday, which coincides with re-opening of schools. This is no doubt a critical time for pupils and students as they are expected to sit crucial examinations whose outcome will shape their future.

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) starts next month followed by the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in November.

This is a crucial period because candidates have to finalise preparation given there was no extra-tuition during August holidays following a Government ban. This is why we urge for reason to prevail in the current standoff and give dialogue a chance.

The feuding teams should think about the years KCPE and KCSE candidates have spent in preparing for the final exams. There is also the input in terms of financial cost and human resources. With this in mind, the two sides should speedily work towards striking a deal that would avert the strike.

While the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) moved to court to block the strike after collapse of talks, the unionists have vowed to ignore a court order and proceed with the strike as planned. Knut and Kuppet have blamed the Government for lacking commitment to fix the problem, claiming they were available for dialogue, only for TSC to move to court.

TSC on the other hand wants teachers to withdraw their strike until the TSC Act is fully operational.

TSC promises it will institute a team to engage the unions on all demands in consultation with the Salaries Remuneration Commission (SRC).

However, unions feel the grace period was within the seven-day strike notice that ran from August 19 to 26.

They feel failure to strike a deal was as a result of the confusion in Government. They, in particular, wonder why the Treasury rubbished earlier appeals by TSC for funds to harmonise teachers’ pay with civil servants, yet budgetary allocations could be reviewed through Parliament.

Counter-blames aside, it is also a matter of concern over the way key personalities in Government have kept off the crisis, leading to the current deadlock. Only heads of the three line ministries, Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo, Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno, and Finance Minister Njeru Githae have been involved in attempts to strike an agreement. Even a galaxy of those nursing presidential ambitions, some with key positions in Government, have merely been spectating the brewing clash.

The two Grand Coalition Government principals, President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as well as Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, have equally not made any interventions to avert the looming crisis.

Unionists have equally confirmed that even the Ministry of Labour under Turkana North MP John Munyes had failed to participate despite its central role in labour issues.

Blame games aside, all stakeholders in the education sector and Government must now come together and find an urgent solution to avoid plunging the education sector into chaos.

There is need for unionists and education officials to go back on the negotiating table with genuine offers from the Government side and some level of being considerate on the part of union officials, keeping in mind what the economy can afford.

None of the sides should negotiate with some cards under the table. Openness and sincerity should be the guiding principles.

When the industrial strikes started late last year, the Federation of Kenya Employers cautioned the Government to brace for more unrest in the labour market as the General Election approaches. Doctors, nurses and university lecturers are equally demanding better terms of service.

The Government should therefore not only zero in on fixing teachers’ demands, but must also work to restore stability in the labour market.