No learning as teachers in Mombasa keep off schools over pay dispute

Learning failed to kick off in public schools in Mombasa Tuesday after teachers kept off classrooms following the government’s failure to increase their salary as ordered by courts.

The striking teachers expressed anger at Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich’s remarks that the government does not have money to pay them the 50 to 60 per cent increment.

They accused them of disinterest and unwillingness to pay the teachers’ salary increment by not honouring the recent Supreme Court ruling.

At Serani Primary school, most classrooms were empty.

The teachers who were present stood around the school corridors as the few Standard Eight pupils who were present studied on their own.

The school’s headteacher Fuad Ali said only 62 out of 400 pupils reported to school.

Most of those who reported had, however, left by mid-morning after seeing no sign of teaching.

"NO WILL TO PAY"

“The government has a way, what they do not have is the will to pay us. County governments return billions of unused money to the Treasury. Where is that money?

"Money was provided for (troubled) Mumias Sugar Company but when it comes to teachers there is no money. Victimization and intimidation will not work with us,” said a teacher in the school.

At Ganjoni Primary School, the few pupils who had reported spent the better part of the day playing in school compound as teachers who were present failed to teach.

“I have gone to my bank account this morning and seen zero shillings so let the government come and teach the kids,” one teacher said.

In Mikindani, residents were treated to a brief drama in the morning after Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Coast executive member Dan Aloo blew a whistle declaring that there would be no teaching until teachers were paid.