“The strike is still on” KUPPET Announces As Schools Poised To Shut Down

Learning in secondary schools across the country remains halted as the teachers’ strike enters its second week.

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) National Governing Council has declared that the strike will continue despite a court order against Strike.

The union has chastised the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for failing to address its grievances, which include calls for higher pay and better working conditions.

One week after the strike began, KUPPET’s National Governing Council met in Nairobi to assess the status of their industrial action.

Their stance remains unchanged: the strike will continue until their demands are met.

“The strike is still on,” affirmed KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori.

Misori emphasized the TSC’s refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve the issues at hand.

The union is particularly concerned about the strike’s impact on Form Four candidates, who are scheduled to take their exams at the end of this term.

The strike was originally called to advocate for the implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

While the government has begun to implement the second phase of the CBA, KUPPET claims that the salary increase is insufficient to meet the teachers’ needs.

“Our struggle is not about the 1,000 shilling increments,” Misori stated.

“We have loans to pay, and many of us have invested in higher education.”

Despite the ongoing strike, the teachers recognize some progress, including the government’s commitment to hire Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers and properly compensate those serving in acting positions.

However, KUPPET insists on more action, particularly in terms of teacher promotion.

“This is about the dignity of teachers,” Misori added, highlighting the union’s broader concerns beyond salary increases.

In a warning to parents, KUPPET urged them not to send their children to school, stating that the union and its members would not be held responsible for the safety and well-being of students during the strike.

The union insists that the strike will not be called off until a satisfactory return-to-work agreement is reached.

So far, negotiations between teachers and their employer, the TSC, have failed to produce a resolution.

While the TSC has sought a court order to suspend the strike, KUPPET claims that the court’s decision is irrelevant because it was issued after the strike had already begun.

The strike’s future and the education of thousands of students remains uncertain as the stalemate continues.