No learning as teachers down tools countrywide

Learning in most public schools across the country remained paralyzed Tuesday as teachers downed tools over pay rise demands.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET) officials said the strike officially commenced Tuesday, after the government failed to award them the 50 – 60% pay rise as directed by the courts.

Speaking at KNUT head offices Tuesday morning, Trade Unions Congress of Kenya (TUC-K), Deputy Secretary General Charles Mukhwaya called for the sacking of Teachers Service Commission (TSC) CEO Nancy Macharia for failing to award teachers the pay rise.

In Laikipia county, teachers stayed away from schools with the branch KNUT executive Secretary Daniel Ndung’u saying the union will paralyze learning in the whole country and calling on the government to stop intimidating teachers who do not report to work, but instead asked it to yield to the court order.

In Nakuru and Koibatek, KNUT representatives called on teachers notv to go to school while in Migori, most classes remained closed and children forced to go back home for failure of teachers to turn up.

A spot check by Radio Ramogi in most public primary and secondary schools in Migori established that no learning process was going on even though learners were present in some schools.

KUPPET chairman in Migori county Kennedy Makasembo asked the teachers to stay away from the classes until they get their improved salaries.

In Nyeri County, pupils in different schools were left to study on their own as teachers boycotted classes awaiting communication from KNUT officials on whether to stage a nationwide teachers strike.

This comes with only two months left before the students sit for their national examinations.