School calendar irrecoverably disrupted

By ROSELYNE OBALA

Education stakeholders have warned the ongoing teachers’ strike is impacting negatively on the sector and appealed to the Government to urgently end the stalemate.

Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Associations (Kessha), Kenya Association of Parents and Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) expressed concerns the school calendar was going to be disrupted for good.

Kessha chairman John Awiti, Knut Executive-Secretary Rarieda branch Collins Oywu, parents’ association secretary general Musau Ndunda and Okella Primary head teacher George Magomba revealed schools have been forced to postpone mocks and other extra-curriculum activities set for this second term.

Mr Awiti admitted the strike has seriously taken toll on the teaching fraternity and cautioned if the situation persists it will affect the outcome of this year’s national exams.

Extra Time needed

“It is quite unfortunate our teachers are on strike to demand for their rights thereby exposing the students,” he explained.

He disclosed that schools have suspended the planned mocks and even the syllabus coverage is now behind schedule by three weeks.

“There is no learning going on and planning for extra time once the strike is over is not guaranteed,” he said.

Awiti maintained the Government banned holiday tuition and therefore he didn’t foresee a chance of teachers scheduling extra time to compensate the lost period.

Mr Ndunda said already the students have lost three weeks due to the strike and this does not augur well.

He said the Government should also organise for the lost time to be recovered either through extending the term by two weeks or shortening the August vacation.

Mr Magomba on his part said he was forced to postpone the zonal mock exams, which were set to kick-off a day after the strike began.