Learning hit as teachers keep off class

Teachers in most public schools reported to work on Monday but kept off classrooms, as their pay dispute with the government boiled into a work boycott.

In many schools across the country, though teachers and pupils turned up, no learning took place as teachers remained in the staff rooms with the pupils whiling away time in their classes.

In most parts of the country, parents kept their children at home, fearing for their safety.

In Mombasa County, teachers yesterday reported for work, but in most schools few pupils reported for lessons as parents opted to keep their children at home following strike threats from teachers' unions.

At Mbaraki Girls Primary School, a handful of pupils were in various classrooms reading on their own as their teachers sat in the staff room.

The tutors, who requested not to be named, said they were on duty because their union had told them to wait until midnight yesterday before it would announce the next course of action.

SLOW START IN WESTERN

At Star of the Sea Primary, the headteacher, Ms Ruth Musyoki, said all her teachers were present.

In western Kenya, it was a slow start to term three. In Kakamega County, teachers in some primary schools reported to work but did not teach.

Reports from the 12 sub-counties indicated that teachers in rural schools had heeded calls by unions representing them to stay away from work.

At Kakamega Primary School, the headteacher, Mr David Ikunza, and his staff were busy making arrangements to accommodate pupils in the classrooms before the start of lessons.

At Nabongo and Muslim primary schools, teachers had reported to work but there was little sign of teaching in progress.

In Kisumu, parents who spoke to the Nation said they were worried about sending their children to school in view of the prevailing confusion.

A parent who identified herself as Ms Molline said she would only release her child after getting information from the teachers’ unions on whether the strike was on or not.

Mr Okello John, a parent at Otieno Oyoo High school, said: “The headache of staying with children at home is too much, let him stay in school, in case of anything, I will come back for him,”

Mr Zablon Awange, the chairman of Kuppet's Kisumu Branch, said: “If by today our salaries will not be in our accounts, we will go to the streets. We are not going for further talks.”

“Some of the students are starting their examination projects this month and they may be forced to skip (them) if we do not get our pay,” added Mr Awange.

In Homa Bay County, thousands of primary school pupils returned home after their teachers failed to report to schools.

The situation was, however, different in secondary schools, as students in boarding schools had reported for the new term.

DEADLINE

Teachers interviewed said they would only strike if the government failed to meet Monday's midnight deadline.

Local union officials were emphatic that the strike would be more pronounced starting today.

Knut officials, led by Charles Ombori, scoffed at claims by the Teachers Service Commission that the union had not yet furnished it with a strike notice.

“With or without a strike notice, we are determined not to report to school until we are paid the salary awarded by the court,” Mr Ombori said.

A low turnout was witnessed in many schools in the North Rift. In many schools in Uasin Gishu County, parents accompanied their children to school, unsure if teachers would report to work.

At Central Primary School, the headteacher, Mr Ben Uluma, called on the government to respect the court’s decision to avoid disrupting studies.

“My advice to the government is that this is a court’s order. The Jubilee government should know that this is the decision of the Supreme Court, which enabled it to be in power when Cord challenged the outcome of the 2013 elections,” said Mr Uluma.

Knut representative in Uasin Gishu County Rose Nasiali warned that if the government undermined the court’s decision, many Kenyans would lose confidence in it.

Eldoret East branch Knut secretary Sammy Bor called the first day of the teachers’ go-slow a success.

“We told our members to stay away from their work stations. Most of them heeded our call and have gone to look for money,” said Mr Bor.

He said they were only waiting for the final word from the Knut secretary-general, Mr Sossion, by midnight concerning the strike.

The same situation was reported in Nandi County, with teachers vowing to stay away from school.

Nandi County Kuppet chairman Isaac Mosbei hit out at the Jubilee government for ignoring teachers' demands despite the court order.

In Laikipia, Kuppet members vowed to boycott their duties until the government honours the court order on salaries.

Branch Executive Secretary Ndung’u Wangenye swore to mobilise teachers in the county not to report to their work stations until the government heeds their demands.

“We will not relent in demanding for our rights. Until the government honours the court directive, no teaching will take place,” said Mr Wangenye.

SEVEN-DAY NOTICE

In Nakuru, Kuppet branch Executive Secretary Gakau Mbugua said: “We shall issue a seven-days notice tomorrow.”

However, in Nyeri County, learning in public primary schools resumed as usual.

At Nyamachaki Primary School, all the 1,400 pupils and teachers reported to school. Teachers could also be seen in classrooms.

Most teachers said they were carrying on with the syllabus for the two-month-long school term.

The Teachers Service Commission on Sunday instructed all teachers to report to work without fail.

Last week, Knut instructed its members to stay away from school until the 50 and 60 per cent salary raise awarded to them by the courts is implemented.

Many teachers in Kisii County kept off work. A spot check by the Nation found only a handful of teachers — most of them headteachers and their deputies — manning schools.