Strikes paralyse learning in Kenya and Uganda

Pupils take advantage of the absence of teachers to play. Picture: File

                

Learning was in the past week paralysed in Kenya and Uganda following strikes by teachers, highlighting the challenge EAC economies face in managing education.

In Nairobi, about 200,000 teachers went on strike demanding the hiring of 28,000 new colleagues on permanent terms.

However, by the end of the week the situation was resolved, with Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta saying the 18,060 teachers on contract will be given permanent jobs next month. An additional 5,000 new teachers will be employed in January next year.. (Read: Deal struck to end teachers strike)

Tanzania is also bracing for a strike as Tanzania Teachers Union (TTU) demanded $27 million salary arrears and $11 million in allowances the government owes teachers. TTU president Gratian Mkoba said the union had given the government a 30-day ultimatum which ends on September 19 to pay the teachers.

An educationist said the strikes, which have affected close to 20 million children in primary and secondary schools, highlighted the governments’ indifference to the quality of education offered in schools in the region.

“For a long time now, the governments have just been addressing teacher’s demands on the basis of strikes,” said Andrew Riechi, a lecturer at Kenyatta University.

He argued that teachers in the region suffered from low morale and were overworked while being paid less compared with other public professionals.

With a $966 million annual wage bill, the Kenya’s Teachers Service Commission is by far the largest employer, above other government agencies, banks and the insurance sector.

Before the agreement, Mr Kenyatta had said the demand to employ 28,000 more teachers, meaning an extra $55 million to the wage bill, would be too much pressure on the strained public purse.

But the teachers would hear none of this. “The strike will go on until they give us a reasonable solution, which is the employment of 28,000 teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, and another 23,000 teachers for early childhood learners,” said Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary-general David Okuta.