Teachers strike called off

Learning in public schools is set to resume this morning after striking teachers on Thursday accepted a Government offer to effect their pay rise in three instalments.

The stalemate was broken after a flurry of informal meetings between the Teachers Service Commission, Kenya National Union of Teachers and representatives of the Finance and Education ministries.

The announcement came as an opinion poll showed that most parents with children in public schools supported the strike. The survey also indicated that nearly three in every 10 parents would rather pay higher school fees and see teachers paid more.

The research, conducted by the Steadman Group for Nation Media Group, showed that 68 per cent of the parents do not mind their children missing lessons until the pay dispute was resolved.

“This is surprising given that the Kenya National Association of Parents had earlier threatened to act, saying that children were getting a raw deal,” said the firm’s managing director, Mr George Waititu.

The government will begin paying the increases with Sh6.9 billion of the Sh17 billion being paid on July 1 this year. Another Sh6.9 billion will be paid in July next year but could rise to Sh10.4 billion if the economy improves “substantially”.

This means that the deal was split into a 40 per cent pay raise in the first phase, a similar amount in the second and a 20 per cent increase in the final phase.

As a result, the highest paid teacher - a chief principal - will take home Sh75,102 while the lowest paid, a P2 teacher, will take home Sh11,611 come July 1.

A newly employed graduate teacher will earn Sh18,850, rising to Sh22,322 after two years. At the end of the implementation period a chief principal will earn a maximum of Sh120,270.

He will also have a housing allowance of Sh40,000 if living within Nairobi and Sh15,000 if he lives in municipalities and other areas, a responsibility allowance of Sh15,000 and a Sh4,000 medical allowance.

As part of yesterday’s agreement, the government will withdraw all cases against teachers arrested during the eight-day strike and reinstate those evicted from their houses.

Softened demands

The teachers seemed to have softened their demands after the TSC seemed determined to make good its threats to withhold their January salary and sack striking teachers.

Education minister Sam Ongeri, his Finance counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta, TSC chairman Ibrahim Hussein, secretary Gabriel Lengoiboni and Knut representatives signed the deal at Jogoo House on Thursday night.

Mr Kenyatta seemed to be the main broker in the deal and came in for some praise from the teachers’ union secretary-general Lawrence Majali.