Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) on Monday issued a 22-day strike notice to the government.
Led by KNUT Secretary-General Wilson Sossion, the union highlighted their grievances saying they need to be addressed, failure to which teachers will not report to work in January.
Some of the key issues raised by the union included; inclusion of headteachers as members of KNUT, halting the delocalization of teachers, overtime allowances to be paid for teachers who work beyond the required time, and suspending the National Education Management Information System (Nemis).
“Nemis must be withdrawn because it is now being misused to punish teachers. Its use should be stopped until teachers’ representatives meet ministry officials to address the challenges they are facing in using the system,” Sossion stated.
KNUT while reaching out to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Ministry of Education for peaceful coexistence among the three bodies warned that TSC will not be responsible for selecting KNUT officials.
“TSC should not imagine that they can choose the leadership of the union. TSC’s attempt to revoke a recognition agreement signed in 1968 is the lowest point it can go,” Sossion added.
The union accused the government of failing to create a smooth transition from the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The union officials called for decentralised procurement of course books due to the variation in the learning environment.
“A mathematics book for a pupil in Nairobi Primary cannot be the same as the one for a pupil in Wajir because they are at different levels,” Sossion noted.
The union highlighted the grievances during a meeting in Mombasa.