Teachers have defied a plea by Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed to shelve their strike plan, vowing to ensure that no school opens for the third and final term. Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary-general Wilson Sossion insisted the strike is still on from September 1 if the government fails to abolish some policies.

Mr Sossion said no school across the country will be opened for the third term if delocalisation, Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) and non-promotion of teachers policies are not abolished. “The government has called for a meeting on August 21, we will go, we want to sleep well after that day. Clear those issues and we will be in class on September 1,” Mr Sossion said.

He added the strike will only be called off if the government meets their demands. “The team that votes for a strike action is meeting in Malindi, our demands are documented to the employer; the ball is on their court to wait for a strike and it is real, and it will come if it is not resolved,” Mr Sossion said in Mombasa on Tuesday.

LOSE PROMOTION

The nominated MP said when the Schemes of Services were abolished by a circular without consultation, the implication is that all teachers will lose promotion, which amounts to Sh5 billion annually.

“This is robbery of a benefit that has been running as contained in the Schemes of Service, which is legitimate and legal. We can’t accept to lose Sh5 billion.

We will go for the meeting with the government, if things are ironed out, there will be no strike,” the unionist said in Mombasa.

He noted that from 2015, teachers have received over 82 circulars from the Teachers Service Commission, which are difficult to implement.

“Delocalisation must be abolished permanently and forever. TPAD and appraisal is a slavery system which must be abolished and teachers particularly those who have acquired new and higher qualification must get promotion. That one is not a choice, it must be done,” said Mr Sossion.

Teachers have defied a plea by Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed to shelve their strike plan, vowing to ensure that no school opens for the third and final term. Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary-general Wilson Sossion insisted the strike is still on from September 1 if the government fails to abolish some policies.

Mr Sossion said no school across the country will be opened for the third term if delocalisation, Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) and non-promotion of teachers policies are not abolished. “The government has called for a meeting on August 21, we will go, we want to sleep well after that day. Clear those issues and we will be in class on September 1,” Mr Sossion said.

He added the strike will only be called off if the government meets their demands. “The team that votes for a strike action is meeting in Malindi, our demands are documented to the employer; the ball is on their court to wait for a strike and it is real, and it will come if it is not resolved,” Mr Sossion said in Mombasa on Tuesday.

LOSE PROMOTION

The nominated MP said when the Schemes of Services were abolished by a circular without consultation, the implication is that all teachers will lose promotion, which amounts to Sh5 billion annually.

“This is robbery of a benefit that has been running as contained in the Schemes of Service, which is legitimate and legal. We can’t accept to lose Sh5 billion.

We will go for the meeting with the government, if things are ironed out, there will be no strike,” the unionist said in Mombasa.

He noted that from 2015, teachers have received over 82 circulars from the Teachers Service Commission, which are difficult to implement.

“Delocalisation must be abolished permanently and forever. TPAD and appraisal is a slavery system which must be abolished and teachers particularly those who have acquired new and higher qualification must get promotion. That one is not a choice, it must be done,” said Mr Sossion.