Parents from Kikuyu sub-county held prayers over the ongoing nationwide teachers’ strike, which is affecting both public primary and secondary school going children.
The parents met at Lussegetti in Kikuyu, where they held a prayer meeting, with the main agenda being prayers for the teachers strike across the country to come to an end.
Miriam Muthoni, a parent, said the teachers’ strike would affect the overall performance of their children, both in their academics and life.
“We are sad that this is the second week into the teachers strike and it seems things will not change any time soon. All we hear is back and forth utterances between the government and the teachers’ bodies,” said Muthoni.
She said they met for prayers knowing that God was above all things and would sway the hearts of the teachers and that of the government to reach an agreement soon.
Muthoni said she has two girls in primary school, and when they stayed at home, even though they tried reading on their own, homeschooling was not as effective as going to school.
Paul Kariuki, another parent agreed that the teachers were paid meagerly, and it was time government paid them what they were worth according to the services they offered.
Kariuki said it was however sad that those suffering because of the stalemate were the children.
“Children are innocent but they are the ones suffering because they are not learning,” said Kariuki.
The industrial court ordered all parties involved in the strike, which includes teachers’ unions, KNUT and KUPPET, government education ministry and TSC to appear in court this Wednesday, and hopefully an agreement over pay issues would be reached and end the strike.