The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) has released a statement regarding the reopening of schools for the third term.
On August 25, KESSHA National Chairman Willie Kuria addressed concerns about a potential teachers’ strike due to a labor dispute between teachers’ unions and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The Association explained that it has made arrangements with the TSC and the Ministry of Education to ensure the safety of learners in schools despite the announcement by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) to strike.
“With regard to the looming teachers’ strike occasioned by a labor dispute between teachers’ unions and the TSC, KESSHA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the TSC, wishes to assure all parents and learners nationwide that the learners’ welfare and well-being will be safeguarded while in the institutions of learning,” Kuria said.
Subsequently, KESSHA has advised parents to prepare learners for the third term school reopening starting August 26, 2024.
KUPPET Announces Strike
The KUPPET National Governing Council backed the Monday, August 26, strike after 68 members voted in favor of the job boycott against two members who opposed the move.
KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori said the seven-day strike notice issued earlier will take effect as the government has failed to meet the teachers’ demands.
Misori said the TSC should have already employed 46,000 intern teachers, which was one of the demands made by union members.
“We have noticed that the junior secondary teachers are not going to be employed, contrary to what we believed parliament was working on,” Misori said.
“Earlier, when we met at the school of government, the TSC was not committal in addressing any of the other issues. We left there without signing any document, meaning that the promise of actualizing the CBA would not be fulfilled.”
Also Read: KUPPET Takes Stand on Teachers Strike Hours to Schools Reopening
KNUT Calls off Strike
However, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) called off its planned strike. KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu said the union made the decision after the TSC showed a willingness to address the teachers’ demands.
“The National Executive Council has therefore today agreed to withdraw the strike notice action that was set to lapse at midnight (August 25). In light of this development, we direct our teachers to resume duty tomorrow, August 26,” Oyuu said.
Also Read: Employment Hopes for 46,000 JSS Teachers Dashed as Gov’t Cites Lack of Funds
KUSNET on Schools Reopening
The Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) Secretary General James Torome also opposed the move by KUPPET.
Torome stated that the unions had already decided to call off the strike after the meeting, but KUPPET changed its stance.
“We want to condemn and ask our brothers in KNUT and KUPPET to come to the public and explain what transpired between the boardroom, where prayers were conducted, and where we were going to address the press,” he said.
He revealed that the teachers’ union had agreed to pay the money owed to teachers from July 2024.
“KUSNET is not subordinate to any union. We cannot change our minds at the doorstep when going to address the press. TSC said that teachers would be paid arrears backdated to July 2024,” Torome said.
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