National Exams to continue as scheduled despite strike – CS Kaimenyi

The government has dismissed calls by a section of leaders and members of the public to postpone the national examinations due to the ongoing teachers’ strike that entered its third week on Monday.

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi said that the examinations will continue as scheduled and should there be changes, his Ministry will announce about them.

“The National Examinations calendar has not been reviewed by the Ministry.  Consequently, I wish to reiterate once again that the said examinations will continue as scheduled,” said Kaimenyi.

“Towards this end, KNEC will release the National Examination timetable shortly, to enable the candidates focus more on the final preparations.”

The Ministry, however, said that some schools, Technical and Vocational Education Training Institutions are open despite other teachers refusing to go to school.

Prof. Kaimenyi said that it was wrong for some head teachers to close their schools adding that the responsibility of closing schools lies with his office.

“ The Basic Education of 2013 Section 95(3) (h), is very clear on this matter and l quote, “The Cabinet Secretary may make regulations with respect to the conduct and management of schools and such regulations may provide for educational calendar,“ end of quote,” he said.

He said the ministry will give directions on the same in the next few days.

Kaimenyi appealed to all teachers to go back and teach as directed by their employer, “in the interest of our innocent parents and children, especially the ones who are slated to sit for the national examinations this year.”

“The Ministry wishes to advise all teachers in our motherland to take seriously the caution by TSC on the consequences of participating in unprotected strike, including loss of earnings and disciplinary action that could lead to termination of employment,” he added.

His sentiments follows a declaration by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) that they will not heed the call to go back to class until the 50 – 60% pay rise awarded to them by the court is paid.

In June this year, the Employment and Labour Relations Court awarded teachers a 50 – 60% pay rise spread across four years.

The ruling opened field for court battles with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) filing appeal cases against the ruling and seeking stay orders and the nullification of the strike.

However, the High Court failed to call off the strike but termed it as unprotected as the teachers’ unions failed to give the one-week strike notice as required by the labour laws.