Govt holds talks with teachers

Written By:KBC Reporters,    Posted: Wed, Sep 05, 2012

The teachers began their strike on Monday demanding better pay Fresh negotiations between the government and the Teachers' Unions began Wednesday in a bid to diffuse the countrywide teachers' strike that entered its third day. Labour minister John Munyes was chairing the talks at his office that begun at around 3:30 pm. Munyes first met the Kenya National Union of Teachers officials for close to one and a half hours before he left the boardroom for consultations. He then called in the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers - KUPPET officials and the talks are still going on. Sources say the parties may reach a compromise on harmonization of the salaries but demands for allowances have proved a hard nut to crack. Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo said earlier that the talks were aimed at resolving the deadlock between teachers and the government over pay hike demands. However, Mutula maintained that the demand for the 300 percent pay hike was unrealistic. Meanwhile, operations in the country's public primary schools remained grounded for the third day running as teachers continued to push the government to honor a 1997 pay deal. The situation was made worse after post primary education teachers joined the strike Wednesday even as pressure mounted on the government to find a lasting solution to the impasse that has disrupted schools learning calendar. In Kiambu teachers took to the streets as schools were deserted, with form four students opting to remain behind to revise for the final exams. Executive secretary for KUPPET in Murang'a County Philip Kimani affirmed that the union will not be cowed with the government's move to sue the union in court. In Makueni, over 500 teachers drawn from the County converged at the Kenya National Union of Teachers Makueni branch before holding demonstrations along the town's streets.  Such scenes were replicated in Mombasa and Embu counties with a call on the government to   harmonize  their salaries. In Kisii, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education and Tertiary institutions senior officials led by Vice National chairman, Julius Korir maintained that they will not go to class until the government addresses their remuneration. He decried glaring salary disparities between teachers and civil servants and called for immediate harmonization even as the teachers bargained for enhanced allowances. And in Narok, area leaders called on the government to resolve the impasse that is threatening to cripple learning in the country's public schools. They decried glaring salary disparities between teachers and civil servants and called for immediate harmonization even as the teachers bargained for enhanced allowances. A directive to arrest those protesting appear to have been enforced in Nyeri as security officers arrested teachers at the Kiangoma secondary school after they attempted to eject their colleagues who were allegedly betraying their course. The group had earlier held demonstrations along the streets of Nyeri town. The teachers were later released.  Examinations The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) Wednesday warned that the ongoing teachers' strike will have a negative impact on the examination calendar unless it's resolved. Chief Executive Officer Paul Wasanga said exams and the subsequent form one selection process will be affected if the strike persists. He added that this will in turn impact on the country's education sector. Wasanga however expressed optimism that an agreement will be reached before the examinations commence. There has been concerns over the negative impact the ongoing teachers strike is having especially on candidates sitting standard eight and form four examinations next month.