Kenya: Government bully striking teachers

  1. Posted on Wednesday 28 January 2009 - 10:05
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    Alex Kiarie, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    Striking teachers in Kenya risk losing their jobs permanently if they do not rescind their decision, the government warned on Monday. Also, the salaries of all primary school teachers have been withheld with immediate effect "to ascertain the names of those participating in the ongoing strike."
    classroom in Kenya
    Gabriel Longoboini, the Chief Executive Officer of the Teachers Service Commission - the government body that employs teachers – said in a statement that the directive is to ensure smooth learning in public schools. The nationwide strike action is in its second week.

    Longoboini ordered all the teachers living in houses owned by public schools to vacate immediately. He also called on unemployed graduate teachers and those who retired in less than seven years ago to report to the nearest TSC offices for re-deployment.

    However, the Secretary General of the giant Kenya National Union of teachers (KNUT), Lawrence Majali, termed the government's move as defeatist and a waste of time. He added that no amount of intimidation will distract teachers from fighting for their rights.

    Learning in Kenya public schools has been paralyzed since teachers downed their tools to protest government's failure to implement new salary packages agreed upon by the two parties over 10 years now. A fortnight ago, a section of MPs threatened to disrupt parliamentary proceedings if the teachers' issue is not addressed by the concerned ministry.

    But education experts have down played the new directive of the government when Africa News reached them for their reaction. Wallah Bin Wallah, an authority in the education section said the government has no option than negotiate with the teachers.

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