JSS Students Resort to Self-Study and Private Tuition Amid Teachers’ Strike
Junior secondary school learners are struggling to educate themselves as the interns’ strike shows no signs of resolution. While some students stay home, others seek assistance from anyone available.
A teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that some students are receiving private tuition from their former lower-grade teachers.
The teachers are trying to keep students engaged in their studies independently. An intern teacher mentioned that students often sought their help at home while they sat outside schools during the strike.
In Nyanza and Rift Valley, most students are staying home. Maurice Ochieng, a student at Joel Omino, has not returned to school and assists his mother with selling arrow roots.
He revises with fellow learners on weekends. In Nyandarua, Julius Macharia, Kuppet’s executive secretary, said teachers were advised not to work until they were employed permanently, as per their agreement with the government.
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He noted that over 3,000 learners were affected and questioned the fairness of making them sit the same exams as those still in school.
Mary Rotich and Paul Kimetto, Kuppet executives in Kericho and Bomet, warned that learning would remain halted until TSC hires at least 26,000 JSS teachers.
They cited the allocation of funds for this purpose by the National Assembly’s Education Committee.
The union officials demanded that TSC withdraw show-cause letters issued to teachers, giving them 14 days to respond.
They accused TSC of harassing teachers who had worked for nearly two years for a salary of Sh17,000.
Kimetto criticized the actions as barbaric and questioned why JSS intern teachers were treated differently compared to doctors, who had a 41-day strike without repercussions.
In Mombasa, police prevented striking teachers from staging protests. Officers claimed the teachers had not served notice, despite Kuppet branch executive secretary Linet Kamadi showing a copy.
Kamadi stated that they would comply with police orders and plan a major demonstration after writing a letter.
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Meanwhile, some striking teachers have turned to menial jobs to survive. Kuppet officials in Busia reported that teachers are now working as boda boda operators and hawkers.
Mofatt Okisai noted that teachers were using their limited resources for these jobs. Moses Wafula, a teacher, said he was using his brother’s motorcycle to carry passengers and expressed concern that the longer the strike continued, the less likely he would return to teaching.
JSS Students Resort to Self-Study and Private Tuition Amid Teachers’ Strike
