Students and pupils in public schools will have to wait for longer to start classes, after talks between the government and teachers failed to bear fruit on Tuesday.
The tutors rejected a Ksh 9.3 billion offer tabled by the government as schools remained closed for the second day of first term this year. The talks spearheaded by labour cabinet secretary Kazungu Kambi and his education counterpart Jacob Kaimenyi bore no fruits with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) failing to table a basic pay offer to the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT).
“We have not yet agreed on return to work formula,” said KNUT chairman Mudzo Nzili, adding that “the real strike will start on Wednesday (today).”
The teachers are demanding an increase in basic pay so that their pension can grow exponentially. They are also asking the government to allow them benefit from cheap car loans and mortgages enjoyed by other civil servants.
Nzili noted that teachers will take a 150% basic salary pay hike, a figure representing half of what they wanted. Last September TSC presented a deal to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) which was forwarded to the government.
Meanwhile students in private schools have already commenced their lessons.
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