Low turnout of students as learning resumes after teachers call off strike

The decision by the KUPPET to call off the one-week strike on Monday evening may have found most parents unaware as most students are still at home even as teachers reported to school early on Tuesday morning.

Kuppet called off the teachers’ strike after reaching a deal with the Teachers Service Commission.

The deal comes as the strike, which entered its second week on Monday, September 2, prompted some schools to send learners back home.

The agreement to call off the strike was reached Monday evening, with TSC assuring that no teacher will be victimised.

A spot check in most schools across Kakamega County revealed that most students are yet to report.

At Friends School Mugai Secondary in Malava subcounty of Kakamega county, the principal Anne Masheti confirmed that only a few boarders had reported by midday while day scholars were still at home.

She confirmed that teachers arrived on time ready for classes but found no students, and they hope that by Wednesday, most students will have reported back.

At St Anthony Kakoyi, the principal Linnet Kidiga said only two students had reported by 2pm on Tuesday wondering why they were still at home after the strike was called off.

She is also hopeful that they will report back in their highnumbers tomorrow so that learning can resume as she has been receiving overwhelming calls from parents who were asking when the strike would end an indicator that they love education for their children.

John Wakwabubi, the principal of Friends School Malava Boys, confirmed that he had seen over 1000 students report back.

This to him is quite impressive even as he added that most had reported earlier before the strike was called off yesterday and he did not see the need to have them go back at home but kept them at school.

The school program started early morning and learning has gone on normally.

Friends Kivaywa High School in Matete, the principal, Simon Kangwana, confirmed that learning is going on normally after most students reported on time and for them they are preparing students for the national exams that begin next month.

Kangwana is happy that the strike was called off, and now they can concentrate on academic matters.