KCSE Exams in Limbo as Secondary Teachers Proceed with Strike
The basic education sector is in a state of uncertainty as secondary school teachers begin an industrial strike, just as primary school teachers return to class for the third term.
This simultaneous event raises significant concerns about the impact on this year’s national exams, particularly the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
The industrial action by secondary school teachers comes at a critical time when students should be gearing up for the KCSE exams. The strike threatens to paralyze teaching and learning, affecting 965,501 candidates who are just nine weeks away from sitting for their exams.
The disruption, while impacting fewer students compared to primary and junior secondary schools, has serious implications for exam preparations and the plan to make up for lost learning time.
Primary Schools Resume Amid Strike Concerns
In contrast, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) called off a planned strike, giving primary and junior secondary schools a last-minute reprieve.
Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu stated that the decision followed the employer’s willingness to address the teachers’ grievances.
Oyuu explained that after the National Executive Council met, they agreed to withdraw the strike notice, directing teachers to resume duty as scheduled.
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Julius Migosi, Education Cabinet Secretary, expressed gratitude to teachers and their leaders for considering the best interests of learners. Migosi emphasized that the Ministry had disbursed Sh21.8 billion in capitation to all basic education institutions to ensure a smooth resumption of classes.
This decision paves the way for the uninterrupted completion of the 2024 school calendar for primary and junior secondary schools.
Resolved and Unresolved Demands
Oyuu mentioned that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) had met three out of five demands, including the implementation of the second phase of the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the remittance of third-party deductions, and the promotion of teachers.
He reported that TSC allocated Sh13 billion for salary increments under the CBA and resolved issues with third-party deductions such as loans and saccos.
Furthermore, Oyuu highlighted that TSC had assured teachers access to medical services at facilities of their choice and had already promoted 51,232 teachers.
However, he warned that the union might reactivate the strike notice if the commission fails to address the pending promotion of 78,000 teachers, the delayed conversion of intern teachers in junior secondary schools, and the employment of 20,000 new teachers.
Ongoing Strike by Kuppet
Meanwhile, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) confirmed that the strike by their members would continue.
The National Governing Council, according to Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori, endorsed the decision, asserting that teachers would withhold their labor to ensure no learning occurs in their jurisdictions.
Misori expressed frustration that even after meeting with TSC, the commission remained non-committal in addressing teachers’ concerns, leaving the meeting without signing any agreements.
National chairman Omboko Milemba supported the decision, citing TSC’s failure to listen to teachers’ plights as the primary reason for the strike’s continuation.
Despite promises of Sh13.3 billion for the full implementation of the second phase of the amended CBA, teachers remained skeptical, noting that the funds had not been reflected in their pay slips.
Concerns Over the Third Term and Exam Preparation
The third term, the shortest in the school calendar, has stakeholders worried about the potential repercussions of the strike on exam preparations.
Silas Obuhatsa, chairman of the National Parents Association, reported that some schools have asked parents to contribute to remedial and tuition programs to cover learning areas during the strike, especially for candidates approaching their exams.
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He noted that in some schools, non-unionized teachers and Board of Management (BoM) teachers might fill in for the striking staff to ensure students are adequately prepared.
Tension between the teaching workforce and the TSC has intensified due to the ongoing strike and unresolved issues such as the status of 46,000 intern teachers awaiting permanent positions and 130,000 teachers seeking promotion.
KCSE Exams in Limbo as Secondary Teachers Proceed with Strike
