THE CRY OF A TEACHER

By Kirong Shadrack

Yesterday I stumbled upon yet again another disturbing headline on our national dailies. The ad hoc decision by a clique of people to withdraw hardship allowance for teachers in some areas and suspension of promotions up to January, does not only annoy, but also ignites the very unending residue of fading fame among some irrational personalities in search of cheap publicity by treading on the rights of teachers.

The conspiracy to undermine this noble profession has been a deliberate and conspicuous attempt since time immemorial. It’s not news that teachers have always been in the headlines for very obvious reasons; remuneration.


History has it that teachers in Kenya have a common language, that of “we will down our tools” or “solidarity forever”. And why would it not if what you carry home after dedication to service are simsims and peanuts? It seems it’s the only language the Government is accustomed to.

I take it as an insult and serious joke when some mediocre individuals can’t differentiate matters of national interests and what is of interest to them. When teachers downed their tools last time, I remember it was a protracted war that elicited a lot of public clamour, pushing the Government to heed to teachers’ demands. As always, it was not a deal without bringing into the limelight the Collective Bargaining Agreement that has not been honoured in the past, a stark reminder of the long trek that teachers have taken in their quest for better remuneration.

When Karl Marx forewarned of consequences of the unbalanced distribution of resources between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat during the industrial Revolution in Europe, nobody took it seriously. However some years later when the strikes swept the whole of Europe, most governments were left reeling in shock, digging for all desperate means to avert the disaster.

It’s so ironical that our so-called MPs take us through the usual formal ritual of rubber-stamping their salary increment in public view without genuine cause as teachers engage in efforts to defend either the little they have or the little they want added.

Kenyan teachers have indeed learnt Fidel Castro’s saying that revolution is not a bed of roses. For over a decade the teachers’ fraternity has been victim to reneged agreements, a tactic that has been an impediment to the progress in offering quality education in this country.

As the country marks the Labour Day, it’s pertinent and urgent that the government adequately and expeditiously address the matter. The 14-day ultimatum issued by the KNUT should not be taken as a passing mania. We cannot afford to slip into another season of strikes, when solutions are unlimited.

The writer is a fourth year education student and Vice Chairperson, The 3rd Eye