Kisii deputy governor Joash Maangi has accused the central government of overlooking teachers’ issues and opposed to closure of schools.
Speaking on Friday during a funeral of Dagoreti North MP Simba Arati's father at Bobasi, Maangi demanded that the government pays teachers as the Supreme Court ruled.
“Closing of schools isn’t the solution for the ongoing strike. The government must pay teachers because they deserve better pay. Uhuru must respect the court ruling,” he said.
His sentiments were supported by Bobasi MP Stephen Manoti and Nyaribari Chache legislator Richard Tong’i who asked the government to source for funds and pay teachers.
“It's only the children of the poor who are suffering in time like this when we are experiencing teachers’ strike in our country. The children of the rich people have no problem and they are not affected with the strike,” noted Tong’i.
Manoti said, “The government needs to pay teachers so that they can go back to class and help our suffering children.”
The government announced on Friday closure of all schools from Monday next week except form 4 and class 8 candidates who will continue with revisions for national examinations that begin early next month.
In a circular sent to education officials, Education PS Leah Rotich said the ministry had revised the school term dates for both private and public schools.
The circular said that Standard One to Standard Seven pupils and Form One to Form Three students would go home, as there was no learning going on since the start of the strike.
The Education secretary has asked the teachers to continue assisting the 2015 examination candidates.