As the scheduled school reopening date of August 26 approaches, a nationwide teachers’ strike appears imminent despite the government’s agreement to implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) met with union officials on August 21 to discuss the delayed implementation of the reviewed 2021-2025 CBA, which was initially signed in June 2021 and amended by an addendum in August 2023. The first phase of the CBA was to be implemented by June 30, 2024, and the second phase on July 1.
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia stated that the government has now provided funds for the implementation of the second phase of the CBA. However, the teachers’ unions, including the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers, have yet to call off the strike.
Union officials in counties such as Kitui and Homa Bay have advised parents to keep their children at home, as they remain adamant that no teacher will report to duty from Monday if the government fails to comply with their demands. These demands include the full implementation of the 2021-2025 CBA, the promotion of 130,000 stagnated teachers, the allocation of Sh15 billion for medical cover, and the release of emoluments for July 2024.
The unions also want the TSC to remit all loans and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) deductions to the statutory bodies, as the commission has allegedly deducted the monies since June 2024 but failed to hand them over to third-party agents, including banks.
Meanwhile, the University of Nairobi Student Council has issued a notice for a protest on September 2, 2024, due to the new university funding model imposed by the government. The student council president, Madzao Rocah, rejected the model and demanded a reduction in accommodation fees, which have been revised to Sh42,000 per student.
The impending teachers’ strike and the student protest highlight the ongoing challenges faced in the education sector, and the need for the government to find a sustainable solution that addresses the concerns of both teachers and students.
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