New Education CS Facing Fire Baptism As ALL Learning Institutions Set To Be Paralysed
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba faces a critical test in avoiding a looming crisis that threatens to halt learning in schools and universities.
Stakeholders argue that Ogamba’s management and leadership abilities will be put to the test after teachers and lecturers threatened to strike.
“No other CS has faced an imminent strike days after being sworn in than Ogamba and it would be interesting to see how he provides leadership on this matter,” Education Policy analyst Peterson Oganga said.
However, the analyst noted that Ogamba, as an experienced lawyer and politician, may be able to reach an amicable agreement to avoid a shutdown.
A few days after Ogamba took over at Jogoo House, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (Kuppet) called for a teacher strike on August 26, when schools are scheduled to open.
Despite Tuesday’s talks with Labour CS Alfred Mutua, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has registered its labour dispute with the Ministry of Labour.
πππππππ ππππ πππππ ππππππππ πππππ ππ ππππππππ (ππππ) ππππππππ ππππππππ πππππππ
— Dr. Alfred N. Mutua (@DrAlfredMutua) August 13, 2024
Today, I met with the National Steering Council of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), led by Secretary General Collins Oyuu⦠pic.twitter.com/iT8cBZPjVm
At the same time, the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) has issued a strike notice due to salary delays and nonpayment.
The union has called for a nationwide strike when the next academic year begins in September, threatening to halt learning at public universities.
There are concerns that national examinations will be disrupted when secondary school teachers go on strike at the end of the month.
Form Four students who will take the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in October may suffer the most as the strike disrupts academic programs, including revision.
Teachers have threatened to go on strike, claiming that the government has failed to implement the second phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
They also want to convert the 46,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers into permanent and pensionable positions, as well as promote 130,000 teachers.
Despite his new status, Ogamba is expected to find ways to avert the looming crisis in public schools and maintain steady preparations for this year’s national exams.
According to The Star, the CS has been working late hours, meeting with top Education officials at Jogoo House to devise a strategy to address the situation.
On Wednesday and Thursday, Ogamba held back-to-back meetings with the ministry’s top officials, with additional meetings scheduled with the Teachers Service Commission.
President William Ruto is said to have issued orders to Ogamba to do everything he can to prevent the looming shutdown in public schools and universities.
On Friday, Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori insisted that his union members would strike on August 26.
βThis is going to be the mother of all teachers’ strikes and we are asking all parents not to send their children to school on August 26,” Misori said.
βWe are advising our teachers to stay as far away from schools as possible.ββ
The last time Kuppet called for a nationwide strike was in 2015, and union officials say their demands have not been met.
βWe have no option, we know it would be very unfortunate for our children but the strike is on,ββ insisted Misori.
Phase Two of the CBA was supposed to go into effect with July salaries, but it was not. TSC requires Sh13.5 billion to increase teacher salaries.
At the same time, Kuppet has accused TSC of deducting loan repayments and National Social Security Fund contributions from teachers’ salaries but failing to remit them.
Kuppet has also claimed that the teachers’ medical coverage has collapsed, despite the government allocating Sh15 billion for the current fiscal year.
Uasu Secretary General Constantine Wesonga announced Thursday that lecturers will go on strike when the new academic year begins in September.
"The New University Funding Model is not working, and our Vice Chancellors have been lying to the President. When they're with the President they say it is working but when they come back to us, they say there is no money." – UASU Secretary General, Constantine Wasonga.
— Gabriel Oguda (@gabrieloguda) August 16, 2024
Wesonga claimed that universities do not pay statutory deductions for loans, pensions, and other third parties.
βIt is insensitive and inconsiderate for the government to withhold salaries of university staff. This has brought disrespect and embarrassment to our members,ββ Wesonga said.
He claimed that some Uasu members had been sued by lending institutions for loan defaults for failing to service loans through the check-off system.
New Education CS Facing Fire Baptism As ALL Learning Institutions Set To Be Paralysed
