Education is a key factor in the development of any nation and so is it in Kenya too. However, despite the fact that Education is key in developing any state, the plight of teachers remains unattended to for now over a decade. In a recent move, The Kenya National Union of Teachers has called upon students and pupils to remain at home come Jan. 5. The Union has called for a nationwide strike come January if the Government does not honor its agreements.
The Union has warned the government to ensure the enumerations are enhanced and have issued a seven day notification to the government. At the Unions’ headquarters, Secretary General Mr. Wilson Sossion insisted that payment allowances have to be honored. Indeed, over the years, teachers’ boardroom meetings with the government have bore no fruits in having them well remunerated. The union has accused the Salaries and Renumeration Commission of being an impediment to their remuneration discussion. The commission has over the recent days increased the salaries of legislators and cabinet secretaries while the teachers’ wages have remained unattended to.
The teachers have held that they will hear nothing from the government and the Teachers Service Commission until the government gives
in to their demand. They have reiterated their words to play hard ball with demands for their payment hikes. The government is under pressure to put a more favorable deal before the teachers so as to avert the strike. The chairperson of the Union has held that the 7-day strike ultimatum takes effect on Dec. 29 and so the strike will begin on Jan. 5, the day that schools are expected to reopen for yet another term. The strike has however been said to be stoppable if only the teachers’ demands are met.
Indeed, teachers in the country, have faced an uphill task in fighting for their rights. Records put it straight that teachers always have to fight to have their rights issued to them. The streets speak better for them to have the government issue them with their rights. It is indeed noticeable and agreeable to each Kenyan citizen that the teachers always fight hard to get their benefits and possibility that the government listens well to the message of the streets. The constitution gives priority for people to engage in strikes.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers Chairperson, Mr. Nzili, has maintained that teachers have to be protected from the economic distress they are passing through. In a news interview with the Nation Television Network, he said that, “As patriotic Kenyans who support the nation and Govrnmebt, teachers have to be given the hearing and the consideration they require.” He holds the fact that they are prepared to be out of classrooms for as long as it takes for the government to meet their demands. He said that some of the Teachers demands are:
1. To have the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed by the government in accordance with the court order
2. To have their salaries increased; a salary component within the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Analysis by Morris Cerullo
the TSC needs an overhaul and removal of commission.further teachers should be employed on contract basis.