Author: Hezron Rooy

Govt Allocates Funds for Teachers’ CBA, TSC Says As Unions Considers Strike Withdrawal In a significant move, the Government has provided the necessary funds to implement the second phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for teachers. This development follows a directive from President Dr. William Samoei Ruto, urging the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to engage with teachers’ unions to resolve ongoing disputes affecting public school teachers. “After today’s discussions, the Commission is pleased to announce that the Government has provided funds for the implementation of the 2nd phase of the CBA with effect from 1st July 2024.” Said…

Teachers’ Strike Looms as Talks with TSC Collapse The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) have declared their intention to proceed with a planned teachers’ strike. This decision was made after unsuccessful negotiations with the government on Wednesday. Officials from KUPPET and KNUT, in a press briefing, confirmed their commitment to continue with demonstrations set to begin on Monday, August 26. The unions reached this decision following a meeting with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), where they were unable to agree on the implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).…

National Treasury Releases Education Funds Ahead of School Reopening The National Treasury has disbursed Sh29.7 billion for basic learning and university education in preparation for the reopening of schools on August 26. This funding is part of the Sh40 billion allocated to various state departments, including Basic Education and Higher Education and Research. Breakdown of Allocations The State Department of Basic Education has received Sh21.8 billion, allocated as follows: Follow Teachers Updates Page On Facebook The State Department for Higher Education and Research has been allocated Sh7.9 billion. This includes: Extension of University Funding Application Deadline The Ministry of Education…

Mudavadi Urges Teachers to Innovate Solutions for Conflict Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called on education professionals to propose solutions to pressing societal issues including conflict, climate change, and the impact of technology. At the 2024 International Confederation of Principals World Convention in Mombasa, Mudavadi emphasized the need for innovative approaches to tackle these global challenges. Educational Impact of Conflicts Mudavadi highlighted the dire situation in the Sahel region and other parts of Africa, where ongoing conflicts have left approximately 100 million students out of school. He stressed that educational leaders must lead efforts in addressing the complexities of…

Parents Warn Education Standards at Risk Due to Government Neglect The National Parents Association (NPA) has raised concerns about a potential decline in education standards due to insufficient governmental support. The association has criticized the government for neglecting the Competency-Based Curriculum by not hiring additional Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers or constructing the necessary classrooms and laboratories. This warning comes as the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) faces a looming strike, prompted by the government’s failure to implement the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The union is also demanding the hiring of 20,000 intern teachers. Eskimos Kobia, NPA Secretary General,…

TSC Meets Teachers’ Unions to Avert imminent Strike The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is set to hold crucial discussions with teachers’ unions on August 21, aiming to avert an impending strike that could disrupt the reopening of schools for the third term. This meeting, scheduled for 10:00 am, is a part of the government’s broader efforts to resolve a Ksh13.3 billion pay dispute that has stirred unrest among educators. Looming Strike and Its Implications The unresolved pay dispute has led to a nationwide strike threat scheduled for August 26, which could significantly disrupt learning in public schools just as the…

KESSHA Decry Teacher Shortage Crisis in Sub-County Schools Stephen Kavuvu, Chairperson of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) Machakos chapter, has raised concerns about a critical shortage of teachers in sub-county schools. He emphasized that this shortage is significantly undermining the quality of education provided to students. The issue is particularly pressing in schools established by the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), where the majority of teachers are hired under Boards of Management (BOMs). Kavuvu noted that the schools are heavily dependent on BOM-employed teachers due to insufficient financial resources. He explained that the available funds are primarily allocated for…

Secondary Schools Asked to Share Laboratory Facilities with JSS Secondary schools across the country have been encouraged to share their laboratory spaces and facilities with neighboring Junior Secondary Schools (JSS). This call to action is aimed at addressing the lack of laboratory resources in JSS, which hampers the effective implementation of the new curriculum. Joseph Kagwiru, a teacher at MCK Upper Mikumbune Day School, highlighted that JSS nationwide are facing significant challenges due to the absence of laboratories. He pointed out that secondary schools have the necessary facilities and should assist JSS in providing access to these resources. To tackle…

MPs Moves to Consolidate University Funding for Free Education Parliamentary discussions on university education reforms intensified yesterday, with a strong push for consolidating bursaries and funds to make tertiary education free. The move aimed to address the inequities faced by needy students under the newly introduced University Funding Model. Members of Parliament (MPs) proposed the merging of various education funding mechanisms, including the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) fund, the Universities Fund, and bursaries provided by governors, MPs, MCAs, and women representatives. This proposal was supported by Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala, who acknowledged flaws in the Means Testing…

Top Performers in KSSA Games to Get Ksh10 Million Scholarships This year’s top performers in the Kenya Secondary Sports Association (KSSA) games stand to gain from scholarships valued at Ksh10 million, provided by Zetech University. The scholarships are designed to offer fully funded academic sponsorships to outstanding students in football, basketball, men’s volleyball, and men’s rugby. Wycliffe Sirengo, Zetech University’s Head of Sports, shared that the university’s officials have been actively scouting for potential scholarship recipients during the KSSA games. He indicated that the list of beneficiaries would be announced soon. Integration into University Teams The selected beneficiaries will have…