CS Ogamba pleads with KUPPET to end strike

By Peter Ochieng

Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Education Julius Migosi Ogambo is pleading with Kenyan National Union of Post-Primary Education (KUPPET) officials to end the ongoing strike.

KUPPET’s members commenced their strike on Monday, crippling learning activities in secondary schools across the country. Primary schools opened for the third term, after Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) suspended the strike, which was also expected to start on Monday.

In a statement issued Monday, CS Ogamba called on KUPPET officials to reconsider their decision to strike, saying the government has already allocated resources to implement the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

“Resources have been provided for the implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement. We have also provided resources for the retooling of teachers, to make them CBC-ready,” said the CS who has been in office for barely a month.

“The government has demonstrated goodwill and readiness to address all the issues raised. We therefore see no reason for confrontation.”

He at the same time lauded Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) officials for their decision to call off teachers’ strike, asking parents and guardians to ensure that children report to school as planned.

Meanwhile, as part of the government’s preparations for transition to Grade 9, Principal Secretary (PS) for Basic Education, Dr Belio Kipsang says the Ministry of Education has put in place the necessary measures to ensure a smooth transition of Grade 8 learners next year.

He said 5, 000 classrooms will be constructed by the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) across the country, to achieve a total of 16, 000 units that were needed for the Grade 9 pupils.

“As we speak, 11, 000 classrooms are at various levels of completion countrywide. We are working with members of parliament and NG-CDF to support us with 5, 000 classrooms,” he stated.

He added that between October and November, schools will start receiving books that will be used by Grade 9 pupils, indicating that the books will be given at a ratio of 1 to 1.