Kisii University Vice Chancellor has called for Kenyan teachers to be given a fair hearing by the government to find the remedy to constant strikes that sabotages delivery of efficient education.
Speaking at Kisii Central Church on Saturday, Prof. John Akama asked the government to embrace genuine dialogue to curb the ongoing strike and subsequent strikes by teachers.
“Am sure the government is in a position of bringing this impasse to an end if they embrace dialogue. Some of demands of teachers are genuine and they should be given an ear to iron out their issues,” he said.
The don said job evaluation as suggested by education cabinet secretary Jacob Kaimenyi is not essential at this time when children are still out of school despite opening of schools last Monday.
“I am and once was a teacher and I really felt what they are going through. The issues they pointed out are real,” he added.
He said many learning hours were lost on constant strikes, something that can be discussed by sober minds to come up with a long lasting remedy for the sake of Kenyan students.
“We have stakeholders who are not committed to end this traditional stalemate. If they become sober and approach the issue from the non-partisan point of view, then I am certain that they will reach an amicable solution,” he said.
Last week, the two giant teachers’ unions KNUT and KUPPET downed their tools on what they called ‘non- commitment’ by the state to increase their salaries and their strike was legitimized by the industrial court.