Striking Teachers Resume Duty in Garissa

At Garissa Primary School, ten out of the 11 non local teachers have reported to work after the TSC rejected their pleas to be transferred to other parts of the country over insecurity fears in the North Eastern region.

Garissa Primary School head teacher Ahmed Abdi has expressed optimism that learning will continue in the school smoothly after the teachers rescinded their decision not to report to work.

Over 1,500 non local teachers from Wajir, Garissa and Mandera had boycotted duty in the first term over insecurity fears.

The move by the teachers to boycott duty was made in December last year following a Mandera bus attack in which 28 of their colleagues were killed on their way to Nairobi for the holiday season.

Most of the teachers kept off classes in the first term as they pushed for transfers to other regions.

The teachers move received an overwhelming backing from Kenya Union of Teachers (KNUT), with the union’s Secretary General Wilson Sossion urging them not to resume duty until their security is assured.

Last month’s attack on Garissa University College has also aggravated the situation, with many students and teachers alike vowing not to go back to the region.

The school has since been closed indefinitely as the government ponders over its future.