Back to class or be sacked, Govt warns teachers

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) today announced that it will not pay striking teachers for the month of September 2015 unless they go back to class.

This comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta had  said the teachers’ demands for increased pay are unrealistic, dashing hope of the striking instructors for fat salaries. “The 50-60% salary increase may not be affordable for now unless Kenyans dig deeper into their pockets through more taxes,” the president said.

According to TSC Chairperson Lydia Nzomo,who spoke at a press  conference on Monday September 14, any teacher who fails to get back to work by 18th of September shall not deserve to be paid.  “It will not be possible to pay teachers who were not working. Any teacher not at work for the month of September will not be paid,”  she said.

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Nzomo,who has been under criticism by teachers, also said that those who would wish to report back to work may do so but will only be paid for the days worked.  “Teachers who will not have heeded the call by September 18 will be removed from the payroll. Consequently, their salaries will be stopped and their names struck out from the TSC payroll,” Ms Nzomo said.

The strike has entered week two in public schools while learning continues normally in private schools across the country.

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