PRESS STATEMENT
KNUT CONCERNS ON THE OUTCOME OF MASS ACTION IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR:
The KNUT is raising concerns on the effects and outcome of the mass actions that were held on Monday 20/3/2023 and subsequently on Monday 27/3/2023, and threats for the same every Mondays and Thursdays.
These demonstrations have adversely affected the smooth running of the Education Calendar in the affected Cities and Towns and more so to the schools situated in the slums of our Cities and Towns.
The demonstrations pitting the demonstrators and the Police, causing running battles in the town streets and residential areas have not only caused risks to lives of our teachers, pupils/students and parents, but in some places have caused destruction to school properties as was witnessed in Kibera.
It is just at the beginning of the year 2023 that we started experiencing the normalization of the School Calendar out of the effects of COVID-19.
In addition, this year has seen our Grade 6 pupils transitioning to Grade 7 OSS) which has also come with its own challenges.
Our class 8 pupils are also being prepared for the Final KCPE Examinations, while the Form Four classes are also getting ready for KCSE, and so we feel that the Mass action is not timely at this particular time.
The Mass action is also disadvantaging the students and teachers from schools in the slum areas as most of them are adversely affected thus denying them equal opportunity and fair competition with the schools situated in safe areas not affected by the demonstrations and running battles.
Most of our young learners in the early Grade are traumatized by the effects of Teargas from the police.
We therefore call upon the parties involved to embrace dialogue to enable our Education Calendar proceed on un-interrupted. When this is not done, the earliest possible, the gains in the Education Sector, in terms of recovery from the COVID-19 effects, Transition of Grade 6 to Grade 7 (JSS) and Preparation of candidates will be put into jeopardy.
COLLINS OYUU
SECRETARY GENERAL
K.N.U.T.
