Kenya schools shut over teachers’ pay dispute

Public schools in Kenya have been shut by the government in response to a three-week teachers’ strike. A Kenyan court has ordered a pay rise of at least 50%, but the government is challenging this. President Uhuru Kenyatta said that teachers are well paid and a salary increase would damage government finances. Teachers argue that […]

Public schools in Kenya have been shut by the government in response to a three-week teachers’ strike.
A Kenyan court has ordered a pay rise of at least 50%, but the government is challenging this.
President Uhuru Kenyatta said that teachers are well paid and a salary increase would damage government finances.
Teachers argue that a pay deal struck in 1997 has only been partially fulfilled.
But President Kenyatta disputed this, insisting that “the award has been settled in full”.
There has been no teaching in public schools since the beginning of the month, as the teachers say the government should abide by the court’s decision.
The government said last week that the move to close the schools was about protecting “children, staff, and… property” and to “allay the worries of parents”.
There had been concerns that children were attending school without supervision.