Teachers strike crisis as third term begins
The education sector has been plunged into a dilemma over the reopening of schools for the third term, with an impending teacher strike during the crucial examination period that might affect the education calendar.
Three Cabinet secretaries are boxed between a rock and a hard place in a bid to avert the strike called by the 406,635 teachers over a raft of issues registered as a dispute with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
All eyes are on Treasury Cabinet secretary John Mbadi, his Labour counterpart Alfred Mutua and Julius Migos (Education), following President William Ruto’s directive that they sit with the unions and address the issues raised.
Mr Mbadi has, however, added fuel to the conflict with an announcement on Thursday that the government does not have the money to meet the demands of teachers. He revealed that the government is short of funds to transit the 46,000 interns to permanent and pensionable terms and recruit 20,000 new teachers as demanded by trade unions and that there is a shortfall of Sh13 billion in the TSC budget.
“There is no money available for conversions (of internships to permanent terms) unless we do a budget adjustment, which we do not have space for. This year has been challenging. We had to look around and see how we can raise the money made available for teachers for their salary adjustments,” Mr Mbadi told Citizen TV on Thursday night.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) have asked their members to proceed on strike on Monday, August 26 when schools re-open for the third and last term of the year.
President Ruto directed the Cabinet secretaries and TSC during the State concert for the Kenya Music Festival at Eldoret State Lodge a week ago to sit with the teachers’ trade unions and find a solution to the standoff.
The industrial action is an acid test for the three Cabinet secretaries in the Kenya Kwanza administration (recently named broad-based government) as they settle into office following their recent appointment.
Interestingly, with two days to the opening of schools and the full import of the strike being felt, Mr Migos has not held a meeting with the trade unions and has been operating from behind the scenes instead of taking a lead in the negotiations.
In Mombasa, during the just concluded International Confederation of Principals World Convection, the minister urged for stakeholders to avert the impending teachers’ strike warning that it might affect the education calendar.
Mr Migos said the State is grappling with financial challenges and the education stakeholders should be considerate when making their demands.
“Teachers’ unions have issued a strike notice, the issues the teachers have raised are legitimate from the signed CBA including promotion of teachers, placing teachers into permanent and pensionable and employment of extra teachers. But the state is also facing legitimate challenges of resources,” he said.
He urged the unions to put the interest of the learners first and ensure the strike is averted during the third term.
The principals, through their Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association National Chairman, Willy Kuria, urged the State to avert the strike during the third term.
“We are aware the unions and TSC are in negotiations, we are certain that both parties will come to an agreement before the schools reopen. I don’t think we have much choice because this is an examination term. I don’t think anyone can joke about the exams for our children,” he said.
The minister urged all unions to give priority to dialogue to ensure smooth teaching and learning activities.
However, At the same time, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) national executive board (NEB) insists the teachers’ strike is on.
In the meeting Friday, the NEB resolved that the strike would proceed as planned.
“The meeting resolved that the strike is on as planned and the union will continue to mobilise its members towards its success as teachers press for their labour rights,” said KUPPET Secretary-General Akelo Misori.
The union said it had scheduled its national governing council to convene on August 25, to “review developments and progress towards the strike”.
“Union branches have been asked to mobilise all teachers to attend religious services countrywide on August 25 to offer prayers and arm themselves for a successful industrial action.”
With just two days shy of reopening, parents and students across the country are bracing for significant disruptions in the education sector.
Other leaders urged the parties in the dispute to resolve the issue.
“It will be the biggest labour unrest challenge for Dr Ruto’s administration after the recent strike by medics working in public hospitals across the country, A way should be found to bring the standoff to an end” said Lilah Siele, a woman leader in Bomet.
“Parents should not be subjected to fear over the safety of their children in schools following the impending strike in public schools over issues that could have been avoided.”
Mr Mbadi’s position is contrary to the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2024 signed by the President into an Act, which provided clear budget lines for the government departments, which included the employment of 46,000 interns.
Reporting by Vitalis Kimutai, Winnie Atieno and Daniel Ogetta
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