By Swaleh on Monday, September 2, 2024 – 12:11 PM
As the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) strike charges into its second week, the disruption is intensifying across the country’s high schools. With the strike showing no signs of abating, several schools have been forced to send students home, leaving families and students grappling with the fallout.
In Nakuru County, both Jomo Kenyatta Boys Secondary School and Jomo Kenyatta Girls’ Secondary School made the difficult decision to send Form One through Form Three students home early Monday morning. Parents were informed via urgent messages, instructing them to expect their children back as soon as possible due to the absence of teachers.
“We received the notice early this morning that our children would be sent home because there were no teachers available to supervise or teach them,” said Paul Asike, a parent of a student at one of the affected schools.
The situation is similar at Nakuru High School and Meru Secondary School, where students have been dismissed as classes have ground to a halt. The widespread disruption is not only affecting students but also sparking frustration among parents.
“I am urging the Kenya Kwanza Government to address the teachers’ needs immediately,” pleaded Ruth Muthoni, a concerned parent. “Our country cannot continue to stall like this with strikes in every sector—health, youth, and now education. We need action!”
The impact of the strike was evident from August 26, the official reopening date, with many schools reporting a low turnout of students. Teachers have remained off-duty, vowing not to return until their demands are fully addressed.
In a press briefing on Sunday, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori reiterated that the strike would continue until the government addresses the promotion of teachers who have been stagnant in their job groups. “The employers have failed to recognize the hard work and dedication of teachers who have advanced their education. They are denying these teachers the respect and dignity they deserve,” Misori asserted.
What began as a dispute over working conditions has escalated into a broader “struggle for justice” according to KUPPET leaders. The union’s resolution to continue the strike follows the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) refusal to engage in talks aimed at resolving the issues. This ongoing strike threatens to disrupt the third term and the crucial KCSE exams scheduled for the end of the year.
As public school students remain at home, their counterparts in private schools continue with their studies without interruption. The contrast underscores the growing divide in the education sector as the strike continues to unfold.
For the latest updates on this developing situation, stay tuned to our coverage.
