No teachers’ strike for 4 years says Knut

The Kenya National Union of Teachers has announced that there will be no strikes at least for the next four years following the signing of a pay deal with the Teachers Service Commission.

Addressing over 7,000 head teachers during the official opening of the 41st Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KSSHA) conference at Wild Waters Centre in Mombasa on Wednesday, Knut Secretary-General Wilson Sossion said teachers were happy with the agreement that adequately takes care of their welfare.

In a break from his fiery criticism of the government, Mr Sossion, who was accompanied by chairman Mudzo Nzili, said the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) would herald a new relationship between them.

“We thank the TSC for this agreement, which is the first ever. This CBA protects the interests of teachers and will guarantee a productive, peaceful four years,” he said.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary-General Akelo Misori described the deal as a major step in teachers’ welfare.

Mr Sossion added that the remaining part of the negotiations should be concluded with the employment of more teachers to address the current shortage.

He called on the government to prioritise on education “even above security” by investing heavily through teacher hiring, training, equipment and provision of quality education.

Mr Sossion said teachers backed the curriculum reforms, which will bring the level of education at a par with global standards and be skill-oriented.

KSSHA chairman John Awiti regretted that fewer students joined the profession as a first choice and proposed the establishment of a school of teaching similar to the Kenya School of Law to train enough teachers.

To conform to the conference theme of “Rebranding the Teaching Profession”, Mr Awiti suggested that teachers should be re-trained to meet the complexity and diversity of the modern technology.

ABHOR EXAM CHEATING

“There should be re-training of serving teachers and capacity building for those joining the profession to enable them keep up with the times,” he said.

He suggested a pre-university training programme for candidates to enable them cope with challenges in universities.

“Learners face a myriad of challenges including drug use, abortion and suicide among others.

"There should be a pre-university training programme to prepare them for these challenges,” he said.

Mr Awiti said that teachers abhor examination cheating and pledged that headteachers will end the vice that has dogged both primary and secondary schools in recent years.

“By a show of the hand before our President here, let us see which principals support exam cheating.” Mr Awiti said.

No one raised their hands.

(READ: Uhuru Kenyatta hails teachers, TSC new salaries deal)

He asked again, “Let us again see through a show of hands which principals oppose exam cheating,” to which all the participants raised their hands.

“It is painful for principals to see students repeating without paying fees because their results have been cancelled.

"It is even more painful to see how hopeless the students become. We support that stern measures be taken against exam cheats,” he said.

The chairman proposed that teachers allow students to use laptops and iPads in school “because that is the way of the new life”.

He proposed that school prayers held in third term should be harmonised to avoid disruption and disorienting students just days before taking their national examinations.

“Let the prayers be harmonised so that the priest, teachers, school staff and students only hold the prayers.