Parents In Dilemma As Schools Reopening Threatened By Looming Strike
Parents in dilemma following the strong stand of the teachers unions on nationwide strike ahead of schools reopening on Monday next week.
The teachers Unions are yet to call off the planned nationwide strike despite the government’s agreement to implement the 2021-2025 CBA.
On August 21, the Teachers Service Commission called a meeting with union officials to deliberate a way forward after teacher unions issued a strike notice.
The strike was to begin on Monday, August 26, the scheduled date for the reopening of schools.
Parents In Dilemma As Schools Reopening Threatened By Looming Strike
Officials from Knut, Kuppet and Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers met to discuss the delayed implementation of the reviewed 2021–25 Collective Bargaining Agreements.
The CBAs were signed in June 2021 and amended by an addendum in August 2023.
The first phase was to be implemented by June 30, 2024, and the second phase effected on July 1.
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia said in a statement that following the discussions, the government provided funds for the implementation of the second phase.
After the meeting, the unions were to consult internal organs with a view of withdrawing the notice, but by the time of going to press, the strike was yet to be called off.
Parents In Dilemma As Schools Reopening Threatened By Looming Strike
On the other Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos has contradicted the TSC boss’s statement after revealing that his Ministry is facing an acute shortage of funding to address all the demands in the education sector.
With only three days to the teachers’ strike deadline, Migos has escalated the crisis by revealing that the government lacks funds to fully implement phase 2 of the 2021-2025 CBA.
Union officials in counties including Kitui, Kisii and Homa Bay advised parents to keep their children at home.
They remained adamant that no teacher will report on duty from Monday, should the government fail to comply with their demands.
“We will use all platforms to mobilize our members to boycott lessons from Monday, August 26,” KNUT National Coordinator Dan Aloo noted.
Kenya National Union of Teachers executive secretary for Kitui branch, Simon Nding’o, said teachers will not be responsible for children who will go to school.
Among the teachers’ demands are the full implementation of the 2021–25 CBA, promotion of 130,000 stagnated tutors, the allocation of Sh15 billion for medical cover and the release of emoluments for July 2024.
They also want the teachers’ employer to remit all loans and NSSF deductions to the statutory bodies, saying the commission has, since June 2024, deducted the monies but failed to hand over to third-party agents, including banks.
Parents In Dilemma As Schools Reopening Threatened By Looming Strike
