Teachers stay away from classes as schools reopen

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Lamic Achieng, a KCPE candidate at Manyatta primary school in Kisumu, takes her classmates through an English lesson as their teachers stayed away from class on September 03, 2012. Photo/TOM OTIENO 

By Nation Team
Posted  Monday, September 3  2012 at  08:50

IN SUMMARY

• Industrial Court Judge Pyrum Ongaya issued orders on Friday declaring the teachers strike unconstitutional following an application by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC)
• Teachers on Saturday said they would proceed with their planned strike in defiance of the court order

Schools reopened for the third term on Monday as teachers made good their threat to stay out of work until a salary increment deal negotiated 15 years ago is implemented.

Primary and secondary schools opened countrywide, but students idled in the lawns basking the morning sun as their teachers dug in with their demand for a pay rise. Learning in private schools, however, kicked off smoothly.

The teachers strike defies an order by Industrial Court Judge Pyrum Ongaya issued on Friday following an application by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) claiming the strike was unconstitutional.

Knut has asked for a 300 per cent salary increment and immediate implementation of the 1997 Legal Notice 534 in regard to the allowances payable to teachers.

A spot check in Bungoma, Uasin Gishu and Nandi Counties indicated pupils loitering in school compounds as teachers vowed to proceed with the strike until their demands are met.

In Nandi County, about 8, 000 teachers said they would not attend classes in support of the strike.

A teachers' meeting called by the county KNUT officials is scheduled for Monday morning.

In Trans - Nzoia, secondary school students loitered in Kitale town after they reported to their various schools and found no teachers.

Area KNUT Secretary maintained no learning will take place.

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Most public schools in Nakuru, Laikipia Narok and Nyandarua counties also remained closed in the morning as learners kept away since teachers did not report.

However, in some of the primary schools - especially in the outlying areas - pupils reported in the morning as usual but had to return back on realizing that their teachers were on strike.

Teachers from the area are expected to start gathering from 10 am to start street protests.

In Mombasa, teachers stayed in staffrooms awaiting further directives from their union officials.

Headteachers and education officials told school children who had turned up for learning to return home until further notice.

“We are happy that some parents have shown solidarity by obeying our order to keep their children at home until our grievances are addressed by the government. Those who reported to school, have been sent back home until we call off the strike,” said a teacher in one of the schools in Mombasa.

In Kilifi County, KNUT Executive Secretary Mr Chitu Gwengwele said the strike was 100 per cent successful in the area.

He said the strike was legal according to Section 41 of the Constitution which says after an agreement fails to materialize between employer and employee, the former has the right to resort to a strike.

“We have not defied the court, we are on the right. Whoever says our strike is illegal is telling lies,” he said.

In Nyeri County, classrooms were disserted as few students who had reported were sent back home at 9am by their respective school administration.

At several schools where The Nation visited, schools were manned by school guards and supporting staff .

Nyeri KNUT branch Acting Executive Secretary Mathenge Wanjau said no amount of intimidation will deter teachers from pursuing their rights.

He made the comments as they matched to Nyeri Technical Training Institute where they disrupted the exams which were ongoing for the Head teachers and Principals.

“We are here because we are fighting for our democratic rights, we cannot be able to teach when we are on empty stomach,” said Mr Mathenge.

Later, they staged protests along the Nyeri town streets.

They have stressed they will only go back to classrooms when government fully implements their demands.