Teachers strike: Plea for school children as January nears

The Council of Imams in Busia County has appealed to teachers to reconsider their plans to go on strike next week saying it will adversely affect learners.

Chairman of the council of Imams, Ramadhan Musa, urged teachers to engage in dialogue with the Government.

Meanwhile, Kiambu KNUT East branch has told teachers in Kiambu not to report to school on January 2, 2019 until the Teachers Service Commission addresses their concerns

Speaking in Kiambu town on Friday, Secretary General Clement Gicharu said that parents should keep their children at home as the strike is still on.

On December 19, The Kenya National Union of Teachers ( KNUT) threatened industrial action from January 2, 2019 to protest the recent transfer of teachers and lack of promotions.

In a press briefing, KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion said the union now wants their issues addressed.

These include poor working conditions and introduction of Teacher Professional Development (TPD) policies without stakeholder participation.

If effected, the strike will disrupt the education calendar that kicks off in January when pupils and students go back to school from the long holiday that stbegan in November.

Earlier this year, KNUT had opposed the teachers’ transfer which was part of their employer’s delocalisation program.

TSC however said that any issues by individual heads that will arise from the transfers will be handled by the receiving county heads.