By Michael Oduor
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Executive Secretary, Taita Taveta branch Mr. Lenox Mshila is calling upon the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to consider the welfare of teachers in the region.
Speaking to Education News as the world was celebrating the World Teachers Day Tuesday 5th October, Mr. Mshila lamented over teachers’ discrimination, understaffing in schools, forced duties, being forcefully subjected to refresher studies under the recently launched Teachers Professional Development (TPD) training and division among other challenges faced by teachers, saying that it was high time for the employer to take necessary actions in ensuring teachers enjoy their working environment.
“As we celebrate the World teachers day we all agree that we are faced with a myriad of challenges coupled with infighting of incitement, discrimination, understaffing, forced duties, TPD and divisions among others as initiated by our employer,” said Mshila.
Mshila further noted that teachers are human beings and they deserve respect, consultation in matters that affect teachers as well as their rights and that, teachers should never beg for their justice.
“We are humans. We deserve respect, we deserve consultation and we deserve our rights. We should never be begging for justice,” he noted.
However, Mshila marked World Teachers Day by celebrating all teachers for standing firm and performing their duties despite the challenges they are facing. He celebrated teachers who underwent difficult circumstances in their lives and families from those who suffered from Covid-19, accidents, diseases and even deaths among others hurdles as heroes whom he said, need recognition.
He reiterated that all teachers deserve to be heroes and that their unity of purpose will enable them win the wars they face.
“We wish to celebrate our colleague heroes who during this time underwent hard period through their lives and families. Some suffered from COVID-19, accident, cancer and even deaths among others ailments,” said Mshila.
He took the opportunity to advice teachers to shun from enemies of unity among themselves in order to win against the challenges facing the teaching profession.
“My advice is, let us not accept divisiveness to continue traveling amongst us anymore, lest we face defeat,” he said.
Meanwhile, teachers who left or were forced out of the union were urged to rejoin in a bid to strengthen their unity.
He further urged their employer TSC to recognize teachers in the remaining parts of the country and pay them the hardship allowances.
