The Kenya National Union of Teachers has urged Junior secondary school teachers to embrace dialogue in addressing their grievances.
The Union's national vice chairman Aggrey Namisi said engaging in street protest will affect the teachers' chances of being recruited into government.
JSS teachers have been protesting countrywide, demanding better pay and permanent employment. They vowed not to resume class unless they are confirmed on Permanent and Pensionable terms.
Interns have also demanded compensation for one year, claiming the government has been underpaying them. They said they are demoralised which may affect their content delivery, leading to poor performance of their students.
Namisi said Knut will engage the Teachers’ Service Commission on the various issues affecting the members. He called on the JSS teachers to be patient in the meantime.
He spoke during a meeting with Knut branch executive committee members from Kisumu county at Nyamasaria primary school.
Namisi said teachers should reposition themselves since the terms JSS will be replaced with comprehensive and senior schools in future.
“We will rework on the Knut structure to incorporate JSS teachers right from the bottom to the top to accommodate them in decision making,” he said.
The TSC, Namisi said, should also address grievances raised by teachers across the country. Issues such as remuneration of teachers should be negotiable since it is their right.
Namisi noted that many teachers dedicated most of their lives mentoring children, and should be accorded the needed support and respect.
He added that Knut members have embraced tree planting exercises geared towards mitigation of climate change.
“We are all aware that climate change is a threat to the existence of human beings unless we deal with the effects early enough,” Namisi said.
During the meeting, Knut members planted trees at the school towards mitigation of climate change effects.
Namisi asked teachers to embrace tree planting and also encourage pupils to do the same.
