Knut tells State to Release free education funds or face strike

A teachers’ union has issued a two-week ultimatum to the government to release funds for free primary education or face a nationwide strike. Kenya National Union of Teachers chairman Mudzo Nzili on Wednesday said most schools across the country had not received the cash, weeks after they opened for second term.

“We are giving the government up to June 15 to release the funds, which are meant for purchase of learning materials and support of other activities in schools,” he told Nation

Kisumu County Director of Education Sylvester Mulambe acknowledged that most schools had not received the funds.

“The funds have delayed but the Ministry of Education is addressing the issue,” he said.

Mr Nzili said learning had been paralysed in some schools due to lack of teaching materials.

Headteachers who spoke to Nation said they had not received any money from the government since the term started.

Mr Charles Odida, the headteacher of Rabuor Primary School in Kisumu County, said most most school projects had stalled.

“We have six classrooms that were condemned and are beyond repair. We need money to construct new ones. The school has a population of 1,000 pupils but the classrooms are few,” he said in a phone interview.

Learners, he said, may not participate in school games and music festivals if the government does not release funds on time.

Ms Monica Aluoch, the headteacher of Rae Primary School in Kisumu County, said a cash crisis had forced her to stop the feeding programme in her school.

“It’s a big crisis. Most of our support staff have not been paid their dues. We are also not able to participate in co-curricular activities, which require travelling and feeding,” Ms Aluoch said.

Mr Musau Ndunda, the national secretary-general of the Kenya National Association of Parents, asked the government to take matters education seriously.

“Most schools have been running without money for over a month and this has affected the key projects in institutions,” Mr Ndunda.

Reference : www.nation.co.ke