Rising Anxiety Among KCSE Candidates as Teacher Strike Drags On.
The ongoing strike by secondary school teachers has caused widespread concern among students preparing for this year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination. As the strike entered its third day, students across the country face mounting uncertainty about their exam preparations, with many left to study on their own or being sent home by schools.
In various regions, the impact of the strike is evident. In Eldoret, striking teachers disrupted classes at UG High School, forcing teachers out and ordering students to leave the premises. Meanwhile, in Kisumu, students were seen heading home from the central bus park after being released by their schools, while others reported being turned away at the gates. The situation is equally dire in the Coast and Western regions, where several schools have sent students home, leaving Form Four students struggling to complete their syllabuses.
At Shimo la Tewa High School in Mombasa, where students were sent home, concerns about the strike’s impact on exam preparations are growing. A school watchman expressed doubts about the ability of the few Board of Management (BoM) teachers to handle the more than 400 KCSE candidates. Parents also show high levels of concern, with one parent, Gibson Mwaluma, noting that his child, a candidate at Dr. Aggrey High School in Taita Taveta County, is feeling the brunt of the strike despite still being in school.
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Students at Kiwandani Secondary School in Kilifi have resorted to forming discussion groups to continue their studies, but fears about the strike’s impact on their performance are widespread. Jane Kenga, a day scholar, expressed concern that the strike would prevent them from covering all their subjects in time for the exams. Another parent, Elizabeth Ngowa, worried that her son, who is in boarding school, might not perform well due to the disruption in learning.
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In the Rift Valley, students in many schools have decided to return home on their own as teachers continue their protests. Outraged parents have demanded that the government keep its promise to resolve the strike and allow learning to resume. Students like Ruth Cheruiyot from Nakuru have voiced their frustrations, urging teachers to engage in dialogue with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to end the strike. Ruth lamented that students are the biggest losers in the ongoing impasse, with little learning possible at home.
The strike has seen widespread participation from teachers nationwide, with protests occurring in various regions. In Nakuru, Kuppet members marched along Kenyatta Avenue, accusing the government and the TSC of using the courts to intimidate teachers. Kuppet branch secretary Duncan Macharia criticized the government for disregarding court orders, and teachers in Naivasha Sub-County echoed this sentiment, noting that learning in public secondary schools has ceased for three days.
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Despite the government releasing Sh13.5 billion to settle salary arrears, teachers remain steadfast in their strike. National Parents Association Secretary General Eskimos Kobia warned that the impasse could severely impact the national exams, accusing the government of failing to uphold its promises. Kobia also highlighted the financial crisis schools face due to a lack of capitation, with many institutions struggling to pay suppliers and provide students with necessary learning materials and food.
The ongoing teacher strike has created anxiety among KCSE candidates, parents, and educators. With no clear resolution in sight, the disruption to learning threatens to jeopardize the upcoming national exams. Teachers continue to stand firm in their demands despite government efforts to pressure them into returning to work. As the strike drags on, the need for a swift resolution becomes increasingly urgent to ensure students can complete their studies and sit their exams as planned.
Rising Anxiety Among KCSE Candidates as Teacher Strike Drags On.
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