President William Ruto has called on teachers to reconsider their ongoing strike, arguing that the government has already addressed their demands and provided the necessary resources. Speaking during a Presidential town hall meeting in Kisumu, Ruto emphasized that funds have been allocated to fulfill the terms agreed upon in the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and teachers.
The President urged teachers to remain patient, assuring them that the agreed-upon funds for the CBA would be disbursed imminently. “Some unions want to incite teachers to go on strike on a matter that we have already sorted. We have allocated money for the CBA negotiated between the TSC and teachers,” said Ruto. He further stressed that by today or tomorrow, every teacher would receive their salaries and arrears in accordance with the signed CBA. “There is absolutely no justification for anyone to tell teachers to go on strike,” he added.
The teachers’ strike, led by the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), has entered its fourth day despite ongoing efforts between the union and TSC to resolve the dispute. The strike has affected learning across various schools, causing disruptions that have prompted urgent calls for resolution from both government and educational stakeholders.
TSC’s Demand and Ongoing Negotiations
In response to the strike, TSC has demanded that secondary school teachers call off their industrial action before any further negotiations can proceed. This comes after KUPPET requested a meeting with the commission on Thursday afternoon to discuss a potential return-to-work formula. TSC has maintained that further dialogue can only take place if the strike is halted, emphasizing the need for normalcy to resume in schools.
The standoff between KUPPET and TSC highlights the ongoing challenges within Kenya’s education sector, particularly regarding the implementation of agreements designed to improve teachers’ welfare. While the CBA aimed to address issues such as salary increments and improved working conditions, delays in its full implementation have been a source of frustration for educators.
Government’s Commitment to Address Teacher Shortage
President Ruto also addressed the broader issue of teacher shortages in the country, outlining the government’s strategy to manage the situation. He pledged to confirm the employment of the current 46,000 intern teachers within the next two months, offering a long-term solution to the staffing crisis in schools.
“We have a big shortage of teachers and we also have a big pool of trained teachers and schools that have no teachers. If I had decided to hire teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, I could only have employed 12,000 or 13,000. Instead, I chose to hire this large pool of unemployed teachers as interns, with the guarantee that after two years of internship, they will secure permanent and pensionable positions,” Ruto explained.
This approach, according to the President, allows the government to make the best use of limited resources while addressing the immediate needs of the education sector. By hiring interns, the government can distribute teachers more widely, especially in underserved areas, while providing a pathway to permanent employment.
The Way Forward
The ongoing strike underscores the critical need for effective communication and timely implementation of agreements between teachers and the government. As the TSC and KUPPET continue to negotiate, it remains crucial that both parties prioritize the interests of students, whose education is directly impacted by the industrial action.
President Ruto’s assurance that the government has met the terms of the CBA and his commitment to employing intern teachers on a permanent basis offer a potential path forward. However, the resolution of the strike will ultimately depend on continued dialogue and mutual cooperation between all stakeholders involved.
As the situation develops, it will be important for the government, TSC, and teachers’ unions to work collaboratively to ensure that the education sector is stable and that teachers receive the support and resources they need to perform their roles effectively.
