Schools to reopen despite teachers' strike threat: CS Amina

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has announced that schools will reopen tomorrow, despite the threat by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) for their strike to begin on the same day.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Ms Mohamed backed the Teachers Service Commission, which is once again caught up in a dispute with Knut over promotions, transfers, performance contracting and professional development modules.

THREAT

"The employer is working in bad faith and cannot start playing tricks when we come for conciliation," he said, adding the absence of TSC officials indicated that it is not committed to roundtable discussions.

The minister said, however, that, "The government is ready to ensure schools open tomorrow. Schools will open tomorrow despite any threats which have been issued."

She added, "The government is fully behind TSC CEO Nancy Macharia on the issues of the strike. The announcement that was made in December still stands. Schools will open tomorrow."

On December 24, the ministry rescheduled the reopening of schools from January 2 to January 3.

Basic Education Director Elyas Abdi said the extension would allow teachers and learners time to travel to their work stations.

TSC STANCE

The TSC asked teachers to report to their stations for the sake of quality learning and parents to take their children back, with the promise that there will be enough teachers.

It added in a statement, however, that, "The TSC has taken the decision to promptly assign teachers in its data base in case of non-attendance by those employed to attend to learners."

This was a reiteration of its earlier announcement that it will sack and replace teachers who do not report to work come Thursday.

Board chairperson Lydia Nzomo reported that TSC chief executive officer Nancy Macharia had been instructed to facilitate the deployment of teachers.

Dr Nzomo noted that the action will ensure continuity in learning as solutions to teachers' contentious issues are sought. She said they had taken time to review the circumstances, timing and context of the strike threat.

In her address at the commission's office in Nairobi on Wednesday, Dr Nzomo did not say whether teachers who defy the directive will be fired.

The former director of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) only said the commission is committed to supporting the amicable settlement of the dispute with Knut.

BALANCE

Dr Nzomo also asked head teachers to ensure learning is not interrupted.

She noted the need to balance the rights of learners, teachers, parents and the employer.

“Learners are the primary clients in the learning and teaching matrix. The commission does not, therefore, contemplate a situation where they will go without a teacher, not even for the shortest duration," she said.

She added, "The commission does not consider premature closure of the schools as an option.”

Regarding the talks with Knut, Dr Nzomo claimed TSC officials were not invited yet the CS clearly gave a timeline when he appointed conciliator Charles Maranga on December 20.

“We attend all meetings when invited. So far, we have attended all the meetings,” Dr Nzomo said. "We were not invited for the Tuesday meeting.”

CURRICULUM

"Guideline have been developed for the implementation of the new curriculum," she said, adding that the ministry and the KICD will ensure books are availed on time.

There shall be five classes in PP1 and only books approved by the KICD will be used.

Regarding admissions to secondary school, Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang warned head teachers against issuing letters directly to parents.

He said that only letters downloaded from the ministry's admission website are valid.