Kenyan Education in Shambles

By Joseph abuje

The education system in Kenya has been paralyzed for the third week running due to a teachers' strike demanding for better pay and working environment.

 

The disillusioned and seemingly frustrated teachers have pointed an accusing finger at both the Executive and the Cabinet in their laxity to solve the stalemate, saying they are not about to drop their demands until and unless the government addresses their plight.

The teachers through their Kenya National Union of Teachers say that President Kibaki has gone silent because he is on his last term, and trying to destroy every sector of economy in the country.

 

The Union says the Kenyan leadership is trying to divide the education system into the rich and the poor, where the poor are facing the brunt of the striking teachers.

The Busia KNUT executive secretary Mark Oseno says that education is key ingredient in the economic development of any country. He lamented that the attempts by the executive and Cabinet to derail back to work formula for teachers is regrettable, and of no help to end the impasse.

At the same time, teachers across the country have in solidarity called for the immediate resignation of the Finance Minister Njeru Githae for being a stumbling block in the entire process.

 

Minister Githae has for the third time failed to appear before the parliamentary committee on education and Kenya National Union of Teachers to explain why he cannot pay teachers their package as agreed in 1997.

The Kenyan teacher is however asking the government to increase his salary by 300percent, raise domestic allowance among other demands.

 

The government of Kenya is nonetheless adamant to teachers requests, affecting the education of public schools pupils and students, more so the form fours and standard eight who are to start their national exams next month.

 

Parents as well as students have urged both the government and teachers to swallow their pride and save the poor Kenyan student.