Education Cabinet Secretary Prof Jacob Kaimenyi says national examinations in primary and secondary schools will not be postponed in the face of the current teachers’ strike. “The national examinations calendar has not been reviewed by the ministry and as such exams will have to continue as scheduled,” he said.
Prof Kaimenyi dismissed calls to postpone national exams as the strike over the 50-60% pay rise entered its second week. Speaking during a press conference at Jogoo House on Tuesday, Kaimenyi added that the ministry would decide whether to close schools over the strike.
The CS also said the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) will soon release the timetable to enable candidates focus on final preparations. He noted that some schools, including technical and vocational training institutions, have remained in spite of the strike.
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This, however, comes amid pressure from opposition politicians demanding the postponement of the national exams. ODM national chairman John Mbadi had asked Prof Kaimenyi to postpone the exams if the government failed to end the strike.
Meanwhile, TSC has maintained that striking teachers will be considered to have deserted duty and will not be paid. “If they don’t resume work by Friday, their salaries will be stopped and their names struck out of the TSC payroll,” chairperson Lydia Nzomo said at a press briefing on Monday.
The push and pull battle continues with KNUT insisting that teachers will protect their rights as enshrined in the constitution.
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