Parents Allowed To Send Their Children To School As KUPPET Insists Teachers' Strike Still On

The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) has given the green light for parents to send their learners to their various institutions on Monday, August 26 despite insistence by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) on the teachers' strike. 

KESSHA National Chair Willie Kuria on Sunday, August 25 announced that the association will work with the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission to ensure learning is not disrupted. 

“With regard to the looming teachers' strike occasioned by a labour dispute between teachers’ unions and the  TSC, KESSHA in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the TSC would wish to assure all the parents and the learners countrywide that the learner’s welfare and well-being would be safeguarded while in the institutions of learning,” Kuria said. 

“Subsequently, parents are advised to prepare learners for third term school reopening starting 26th August 2024.”

KESSHA chairperson Willie Kuria during his homecoming celebrations on July 3, 2024, at Murang'a Boys High School. /THE STAR

This comes amidst disagreement amongst teachers' unions over the teacher’s strike. The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) had both announced the planned industrial action, aimed at pushing for salary increments as per the 2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

KNUT had announced on Sunday that its National Executive Council (NEC) had voted to call off the strike. However, KUPPET reported that its National Governing Council (NGC) had given the green light for teachers to proceed with the strike.

This divergence in decisions has created uncertainty on the eve of the anticipated strike, leaving teachers and parents awaiting further developments.

KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori said despite the fact the KNUT withdrew its call for the strike, their call still stands for all teachers in the republic. 

“Notwithstanding the sectoral representation between the two trade unions, the CBA between KUPPET and the Teachers Service Commission has no discrimination as to Job Groups. The union will protect the rights and interests of all teachers participating in the strike irrespective of their union membership,” Misori said.

Additionally, he warned that school heads should not open schools for the third term, saying “The NGC sent a clear message to the National Association of School Principals, cautioning them against opening schools when there will be no teachers to handle learners during industrial action."

Both KNUT and KUPPET had announced the planned industrial action, aimed at pushing for salary increments as per the 2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Following the announcement of the strike earlier this month, the teachers' unions had a consultative meeting on August 21 at the Kenya School of Government with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), who is the employer. 

KUPPET reported that TSC gave assurance that it would close the payroll that same day and pay teachers’ salaries with increment arrears from July the following day on 22nd August and remit third-party deductions. However, as of the expiry of the Strike Notice, no such payments had been made, according to Misori. 

“The union will determine the veracity of the promise once teachers receive their monthly salaries for August,” Misori said. 

KUPPET also revealed that out of 73 members present, 68 voted in favour of the strike while five abstained. KNUT said all their members had, without coercion, agreed to call off the strike. 

KUPPET called upon all its members, the entire teaching fraternity, parents and other like-minded Kenyans to join the fight for teachers’ labour rights until the members’ grievances are addressed.

As KUPPET moves forward with the teacher’s strike, the union seeks full implementation of the 2021-2025 CBA that will see tutors get a salary raise. It also wants the immediate confirmation of 46,000 intern teachers into permanent and pensionable employment. “The promotion of 130,000 stagnated teachers who have been shortlisted and interviewed for new grades as well as restoration of Teachers Medical Scheme to original limits,” Misori said. 

Additionally, the union boss demanded that 20,000 new teachers be recruited for JSS learners.