By Lydia Ngoolo
Kibwezi branch Kenya National Union of Teachers chairman Christopher Kitua has said that members have enough confidence in the new Knut leadership led by Secretary General Collins Oyuu.
Oyuu, who replaced Wilson Sossion said he will engage more on negotiations rather than strikes and court battles. He promised to restore the union to its past glory and ensure good working relationship with the employer.
Speaking at a function in Makindu, Kitua noted that the new leadership has cordial relationship with TSC and teachers expect that Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will bear fruits in terms of teachers’ promotion and salary increment to both administrators and classroom teachers.
He said that such promotions in CBA will not only motivate teachers, but it will ensure they don’t stagnate in one grade for long.
“We also hope that there will be remittance of teachers union dues to Knut account for effective running of the branches since we have had a very hard time in the past,” Kitua noted.
He called upon all teachers to make use of TSC portal to join the giant union to voice their issues and for easy negotiations of their affairs by TSC.
The leader urged teachers to ensure that all grade 4 pupils who have been on holiday for three months resume grade 5 next term.
To ensure 100 percent transition policy to secondary schools, he urged chiefs, teachers and all education stakeholders to make sure those who sat KCPE join form one come August.
“We should not forget the vulnerable children. I urge anybody with the capacity to help, to chip in and do so. Parents should also remember to apply for bursaries from national and county government and many other foundations,” Kitua advised.
The chairman urged the registrar general office to give priority to standard seven and form three students by urgently issuing birth certificates since they are registering for national exams where a birth certificate is compulsory. “The deadline will be end of this month and it has become a big challenge to head teachers, principals and parents,” added Kitua.
