Luanda MP Dick Maungu has urged the government to implement the teachers’ Collective Bargaining Agreement to avert a looming strike.
Teachers were set to receive a salary increment of up to 9.5 per cent starting from July 1, last year, following an agreement between TSC and teachers' unions.
The deal was signed by 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 (KUSNET).
Maungu said the government should engage teachers to agree on a roadmap to fully implement the agreement to avoid a strike that will disrupt learning.
He stated that the opposition will press for immediate adoption of the CBA.
“We cannot sit back and watch our teachers suffer and learning disrupted. We will fight to ensure the 2021-2025 CBA is fully implemented,” Maungu said.
The legislator spoke during the constituency Education Day on Friday. Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka also attended the event.
The Kenya Union for Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) announced a countrywide strike next month to press for full implementation of the CBA.
The union wants TSC to employ 20,000 new teachers and hire 46,000 intern teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
Bungoma County KUPPET Chairman David Barasa asked the government to fulfil its commitments to the education sector.
“The government should stop using the Finance Bill as an excuse. They must meet our demands before September or be prepared for a total shutdown of the education sector,” he added.
Barasa also protested over delayed disbursement of capitation to schools.
Barasa called for an increment in school fees following the reduction of capitation from Sh 22, 244 to Sh 17,000 per student by the Kenya Kwanza regime.
The unionist criticized the government’s decision to remove the Edu Afya programme, which he said has made it difficult for schools to care for sick students.
“Edu Afya was crucial for student health. Now, principals are struggling to manage and attend to ill students,” he said.
Barasa said the current shortage of teachers in public schools is hindering the effective implementation of CBC, putting students’ futures at stake.
“If we don’t take this seriously, our learners could be on the wrong path. We need all parents to support us. Our strike begins in September,” he declared.