Give teachers what is rightfully theirs

Teachers have always resorted to strikes to push for better salaries. However, it is not by their wish to be on the streets every time.

The Government should consider effecting the promised 50-60 per cent increment. It should not expect teachers to deliver good quality of education to Kenyans if they are not treated right and are also underpaid.

Nobody can work when frustrated or demotivated. Our teachers are human and have families that depend on them. It would not be fair to demand more from them when they cannot meet their financial obligations.

Besides that, it was also agreed that there must be full recognition of equal pay for equal work. But Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) filed an appeal in the Supreme Court terming it as a ‘cautionary measure’ in case Teachers Service Commission (TSC) continues delaying negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

And last year, Presdent Uhuru Kenyatta had a deal with the two unions and TSC and asked them to go to negotiation and sign a CBA within a month. But that has proved to be difficult up to date.

Both parties also had to agree to withdraw all court cases that were pending and related to the dispute in order to have talks leading to the signing of a four-year CBA.

Teachers earlier lost the 50-60 per cent pay increase that the labour court had earlier awarded them in June 30, 2015. Later, five Court of Appeal cited the labour court’s lack of jurisdiction for nullifying the award given to the teachers.

I am calling on the government to look up into this matter and give the teachers what is rightfully theirs.

{Emmanuel Owiti, via email}

TSC must pay relief teachers their dues after their contracts were terminated early last month.

The affected teachers have families who depend on them.

It was shocking to learn that they were not remunerated even though they worked tirelessly for three months.

Most of them helped to run classes in public schools when permanent teachers were on strike.

Majority of them left teaching in private schools where salaries were constant.

{Jeff Chepkwony, via email}