The education sector in Kenya is facing an impending crisis as teachers’ unions have issued notices for a nationwide strike set to commence on August 26. This industrial action, poised to disrupt basic education through to universities, comes at a critical juncture with key examinations like the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) scheduled for October and November, respectively.
The primary catalyst for this strike is the government’s failure to honor its commitment to implement the second phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) have voiced their grievances over this breach, citing unmet promises as a major issue. In addition, they are calling for the promotion of 36,000 teachers and the addressing of the plight of 130,000 stagnated tutors. They have also highlighted the urgent need to recruit 20,000 teachers on permanent and pensionable terms to address the severe deficit in Junior Secondary Schools.
The situation is further compounded by concerns from the University Academic Staff Union (UASU), which has reported delayed and incomplete salary payments. UASU Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga has expressed frustration over the non-remittance of contributions to various welfare bodies, including the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), retirement benefits schemes, and Sacco loans. This financial strain threatens to paralyze academic activities across public universities, adding another layer of urgency to the crisis.
Newly appointed Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migosi Ogamba, during his vetting by Parliament, indicated a hope that teachers would agree to postpone the implementation of the CBA. He attributed the government’s reduced capacity to fulfill these promises to the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024, which had a direct impact on the availability of resources.
The National Assembly Education Committee had previously warned that the reduction of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) recurrent budget by Ksh10.2 billion could lead to industrial action. Committee Chairperson Julius Melly had predicted that such a reduction would likely incite strikes and disrupt the learning process. The committee’s concerns now appear to be materializing as unions prepare for a nationwide walkout.
The situation is dire, with potential repercussions for students’ education and national examination performance. Prolonged strikes could lead to significant learning losses, adversely affecting students’ performance in crucial national exams and their overall academic trajectories. It is imperative that all stakeholders engage in dialogue to resolve these issues swiftly.
The key players in this scenario—the government, teachers’ unions, and university staff—must come together to find a viable solution. Embracing dialogue and negotiations is crucial to calming the unrest and preventing further disruptions in the education sector. The focus should be on addressing the grievances of the teachers while ensuring that the educational needs of students are met.
As the strike date approaches, the education sector faces a critical test of its resilience and adaptability. The outcome of the ongoing negotiations will be pivotal in determining the future stability of Kenya’s educational system and its ability to sustain academic progress amidst these challenging times.
