Confusion reigns as Kwale schools struggle to reopen amid teachers' split over strike

Kwale County faced an unusual start to the third school term this Monday as many children remained at home due to ongoing confusion over the teachers' strike.

Parents in the region expressed their apprehension about sending their children to school amid conflicting reports on whether schools would fully resume operations.

Despite a formal announcement from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) that the strike had been withdrawn and schools would resume as scheduled, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Kwale branch maintained that the strike was still ongoing. This discord has left many families in limbo.

"I decided to keep my children at home today because I am not sure if their teachers will be there. There has been so much confusion, and I don't want to risk sending them to school if the situation isn't resolved," said Mary Wanjiku, a mother of three from Kwale town.

Another parent Mwanasha Khalfan said she would only allow her children to resume studies next week.

"My children are in boarding school in Embu. I cannot take them to school only for them to be sent back home," she said.

Better pay

KUPPET has continued to advocate for better pay and working conditions, which has fueled the strike.

"Our members are still on strike because the issues we raised have not been addressed satisfactorily. We cannot just stop without seeing concrete action from the government," said KUPPET Kwale Branch Executive-General Oronje Leonard,"

On the other hand, KNUT has urged schools to proceed with normal operations.

"We have officially called off the strike, and we expect all teachers to be in their classrooms," said KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu. "It's important for our children to resume their education without further delays."

In the absence of a clear resolution, local schools in Kwale County are grappling with empty classrooms and anxious parents.

Samuel Ndung'u, a school principal in Kwale, expressed concern about the low turnout.

"We were prepared to open today, but it is clear that many parents are still uncertain due to the ongoing confusion. We hope that this situation will be resolved soon so that we can get back to our regular school routines," Ndung'u noted.

Along the road, only students from the private schools could be spotted.

As the third term begins, the education sector in Kwale County is under significant strain. The conflicting statements from teachers' unions have led to widespread uncertainty, impacting both the students' morale and their educational progress.

The situation remains fluid, with parents and educators awaiting a definitive resolution. For now, many families are left to navigate the uncertainty, hoping for a swift end to the strike and a return to a stable school environment.