By: James Wekesi
Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers working in various schools within Bungoma County have called for the full autonomy of JSS while demanding for absorption into permanent and pensionable terms.
According to William Waswa the Bungoma Intern JSS chairman said that they have suffered enough adding that the strike is the only weapon to use for their grievances to be worked on.
“We declare in one voice, a teacher cannot survive with seventeen thousand shillings (17,000/-) we’re not going back in class we are demanding for confirmation of 44,000 teachers because internship is illegal” he stated.
His sentiments were echoed by Ledishah Nekesa who said that the issue of career progression is not clear for Junior secondary school teachers.
She shared the issues they were going through as care givers to students at school.
Ms Nekesa urged the stakeholders to ensure that they are not sidelined adding that they are equal to the task as professionals.
“Teachers in the country are going through depression, we demand better terms, mental wellness and a friendly environment for them to handle their issues” Ann Nabutola added.
Emmanuel Wafula criticized the government for ignoring their plight.
Recently the Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Moses Wetang’ula met teachers across Bungoma county at his Namuyemba residence where similar concerns were raised.
The teachers led by Bungoma Women MP Catherine Wambilianga denounced the SHA insurance svheme as a flop adding that they were not accessing health care services adequately.
Speaker Wetang’ula promised to meet with the CS for Health Aden Duale in his office on Monday to find ways of solving the crisis.
The teachers at the Speakers residence claimed that they’re going through a hard time while looking for health services.
Ferdinand Wamalwa stated that hospitals selected to offer treatment services to teachers are in conflict with the government over SHA re embursements creating roadblocks for teachers seeking for proper healthcare.
,
“it’s not possible for a teacher to offer Quality education when he’s sick because the government is always shifting accredited hospitals and we also demand to get services from Qualified doctors” he added.
According to Augustine Kundu Luketelo the Bungoma county executive secretary of KUPPET asked the ministry of education to confirm the 44,000 teachers to permanent and pensionable terms
Pertaining autonomy, Augustine Luketelo has confirmed that president William Ruto’s order to the ministry has not yet been effected by the ministry of education delaying the fulfilment of the promise of autonomy by the Junior secondary schools
He called on the health cabinet secretary to work shiftly and address the issues affecting teachers in accordance with the contribution they always do in every month, “there’s no way we will be in class as our colleagues are dying because of poor health services from hospitals” Luketelo stated.
He also urged other teachers in different places to down their tools and join them in the strike so that the government can provide a solutions to their grevances
