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| Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba |
The chairman of Commission for Education & Religious Education of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba has urged the Teachers Service Commission and the Teachers’ Union to engage in dialogues to put an end to the ongoing teachers’ strike which has reached the third week and paralyzed learning in public schools throughout the country.
In a statement issued on Monday 14th September, 2015, Bishop Muhatia, who is also the Bishop of Nakuru Diocese said that the Catholic Church in Kenya is saddened by the strike and is more concerned that both the Teachers Service Commission and the Teachers’ Unions are unwilling to sit at the negotiating table and agree on how to settle the problem of 50-60% pay increase.
“Our biggest concern is for millions of innocent children who continue to bear the brunt of the strike and remain uncertain about their learning and future,” said the statement adding that the Church passionately appeals to all parties involved to review their positions in the best interest of these children notwithstanding the sacrifices that have to be made.
In August, the Supreme Court of Kenya ruled for a pay increase of 50 to 60 percent for teachers. But the government says it doesn’t have the money, so the teachers’ unions went on strike from September 1st.
Kenyan public schools have been without teachers for the third week. Over 10 million pupils in public primary and secondary schools have been affected during this third term, which is considered crucial, especially for students who are about take their national exams in October and November.
The Teacher Service Commission (TSC) is a government-mandated organization to manage teacher employment. It has been arguing that the pay increase for teachers is an extra KSh 17 billion (about USD 170, Million) on teacher’s wages every year which is not affordable.
TSC Chair Dr. Lydia Nzomo announced at a press conference on September 14 that the strike is illegal and threatened not to pay the teachers for the three weeks they have not worked.
However, the Kenya National Union of Teachers KNUT has maintained a hardline stand and vowed to continue with the strike until their demands are met. The KNUT secretary general, Wilson Sossion maintained that teachers would not return to their posts if the government fails to implement the salary increment.
The 50-60% pay rise was awarded by the industrial court in June in a move that saw the Teachers Service Commission go to the appeal court to object to the orders. The Appeals court again upheld the ruling, forcing the TSC to take the matter to the Supreme Court which again upheld the Appeals court decision and distanced itself from the case.
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
