Kenya Schools to re-open on Monday as gov’t announces new term dates

Saturday, September 26, 2015

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The government has ordered re-opening of all private and public schools on Monday, September 28th after the Employment and Labour Relations Court suspended the teachers’ strike for 90 days.

In the announcement, the Ministry of Education said that no schools should levy any extra fees on parents in the pretext of covering costs occasioned by the pay dispute.
Following the four week long teachers’ strike, the third term has been extended by a week and there will be no half-term break.
Schools will resume Monday, September 28th and close on November 20th.

Earlier in the day, the Employment and Labour Relations Court suspended the teachers’ strike but declined from terming it as unprotected.

The Court further warned the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) from victimizing any teacher and pay them their salaries for the month of September which they have been on strike.

In the ruling, Justice Nelson Abuodha ordered TSC and the Labour Cabinet Secretary to appoint an independent conciliator in 30 days to resolve the teachers’ salary increment dispute.

The Judge said that after 90 days, any party would be free to raise issues.
In his ruling, Justice Abuodha said the ongoing teachers’ strike is legal and declined to issue orders prohibiting it.

The suspension of the teachers’ strike comes as a relief for many students and parents, with the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations (KCSE) set to begin on Monday, September 28th.

The teachers’ strike has been ongoing for four weeks, with various organizations calling on the government to give the teachers their pay increment.

Teacher’s downed their tools at the beginning of September over the pay dispute paralyzing learning activities in all public schools across the country.

On Sunday during a televised address, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Kenyans would have to dig deeper into their pockets through higher taxes if government is to implement the 50 to 60 percent pay increase for teachers.

President Kenyatta said the government cannot afford the pay rise, terming it unsustainable.

President Kenyatta said the current wage bill is already too high and such a salary increase for the striking teachers would further strain the economy.

President Kenyatta’s statement was a blow to the teachers who are seeking a salary increment from the government.

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