Learning paralysed in Kenyan public schools

Written By:KBC reporters,    Posted: Mon, Sep 03, 2012

No learning was taking place in most schools that opened Monday for the third and final term (file) Kenyan teachers on Monday made good their threat to go on strike paralyzing learning in all public schools. A spot check by KBC showed that no learning was taking place in most schools countrywide that opened Monday for the third and final term. Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) called the strike to demand payment of overdue allowances. Both unions have disregarded a court order obtained by the Teachers' Service Commission outlawing the strike. COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli threw his weight behind the striking teachers calling on the government to address their grievances. KNUT national chairman Wilson Sosion said teachers have been neglected for years and is calling on them to stay put and not to be intimidated. Elsewhere, KUPPET National chairman Omboko Milemba has urged its members to join the strike accusing the government of violating the rights of teachers by paying them poorly. Knut has directed the striking teachers to assemble at its branch offices countrywide for briefing. Kuppet said their strike begins on Wednesday. In Naivasha, thousands of students were sent home for fear that they could damage school property. The affected schools are Milimani, DEB, Manera, Mirera, Gituamba, Lakeview primary. It was chaos in Narok after the striking teachers blocked the Narok-Mai mahiu road for over 30 minutes. The teachers are demanding among other things allowances as contained in legal notice 543 of 1997, salary increment of up to 300 percent, responsibility allowances and generally improved terms and conditions of service. The Union says the government increased salaries of some workers, but has yet to do the same for teachers. More to follow............