Three reasons why teachers are desperately thirsty for a strike

TEACHERS-STRIKEThe teachers’ strike scheduled to take place in January is still on.The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) in Nandi County has urged parents to stay with their children at home saying schools will not reopen for the first term on Thursday.

The call comes amid high tension of the looming strike paralysing learning in public schools as the national leadership vows to go on with the January strike.Image result for teaching gif

According to Nandi South KNUT Secretary General Stephen Misoi, about 8000 teaches in Nandi County will not report to work until the government addresses various issues affecting teachers.

Misoi accused the ministry of undermining teachers over promotions, mass transfers, poor terms of service among other grievances raised by the union.teachers' strike

The teachers’ union wants the transfers of 3,094 head teachers of primary and secondary schools by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) be recalled terming them irregular.

“Delocolisation has been done without consultation. TSC was clearly instructed to stop what it’s doing. Papers have been exchanged but the hearts of teachers are still unmoved,” added Sossion

While issuing the strike notice on Wednesday, December 19 Sossion indicated that the transfers had not yet been approved by the appointing board.

“This action by TSC constitutes abuse of office and defiance to the head of state,” retorted Sossion. “We are withdrawing labour to protest disruption of families through irregular policy of delocalisation,”

The KNUT Secretary General also faulted TSC on their persistence to subject teachers to performance contracts and appraisals terming it as intimidating.

“Subjection of teachers to illegal contracts, TSC is reducing teachers to clerical officers,” said Sossion.Image result for teachers strike knut

“We are protesting the introduction of the teacher professional development policies without stakeholder’s opinion. Capacity building is work of the employer, not from a teacher’s salary.”

The strike, if effected, will most definitely disrupt the education calendar that kicks off in January when pupils and students go back to school from the long Christmas holiday that started in November.

Earlier this year, KNUT had opposed the teachers’ transfer which was part of TSC’s delocalisation programme.

TSC says that any issues by individual heads that will arise from the transfers will be handled by the receiving county heads.

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