Teacher’s Strike Forces Schools To Begin Sending Students Home As It Enters Week Two
As the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) strike enters its second week, schools have decided to send students home.
On Monday morning, Jomo Kenyatta Boys Secondary School and Jomo Kenyatta Girls’ Secondary School in Nakuru County sent students in grades one through three home.
Early Monday morning, parents received messages informing them that their children could return home at any time.
“We received information early Monday morning that we should expect our children back home because there were no teachers in the school to teach and look after them,” Paul Asike a parent at the school, revealed.
Nakuru High School and Meru Secondary School also sent students home, claiming that no learning was taking place.
High schools across the country begin sending students home due to the lack of teachers as KUPPET strike enters its second week. pic.twitter.com/kgvUeSeoNg
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) September 2, 2024
Responding to the latest development, parents expressed their dissatisfaction with the government and urged the president to pay teachers so that learning could continue.
“I am urging the Kenya Kwanza Government to look into the needs of the teachers, our country cannot continue to stall like this because you are not listening.
“The doctors were striking, the Gen Zs were striking and now the teachers are on strike, we cannot continue like this,” Ruth Muthoni, another parent, said.
Schools across the country reported a low student turnout on August 26, the official reopening date, after teachers vowed not to return to work until their grievances were resolved.
Following a meeting on Sunday, top KUPPET leaders told the media that the strike would continue for a second week until their employer promoted teachers who had stagnated in various job groups.
“The employers have refused to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of teachers who have gone the extra mile to further their education,” KUPPET SG Akelo Misori said.
“Tumewaacha wafunzwe na ulimwengu,” Striking secondary school teachers sing as they vow not to return to class pic.twitter.com/ZFlhGAUpkr
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) September 1, 2024
“They have refused to promote these teachers, denying them the dignity and respect they deserve.”
The strike, which began as an industrial dispute, has now escalated to what the teachers are now calling a “struggle for justice”
KUPPET’s decision to continue the strike comes days after TSC rejected its request for talks to end it.
The go-slow is already having an impact on the third term, particularly the KCSE exams scheduled for the end of the school year.
While public school students remain at home due to the strike, their private school counterparts continue to learn.
Teacher’s Strike Forces Schools To Begin Sending Students Home As It Enters Week Two
