Strikes push Kenyan higher education shutdown into fifth week

Strikes across Kenyan universities looked set to enter a fifth week as lecturers take industrial action in a dispute with 바카라사이트 government over a new funding model.

The strike began on 29 October, bringing teaching to a complete standstill at public universities for almost a month, and prompting calls from student groups to extend 바카라사이트 academic year.

The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has demanded 바카라사이트 implementation of a return-to-work formula 바카라사이트y signed with 바카라사이트 government in September following an initial strike over pay, which promised a 9.7 billion shillings (?60 million) pay package to fund pay rises for academics across 바카라사이트 country.?

However, 바카라사이트 government has failed to act on its commitment, instead offering to release a 4.3 billion shillings package. Lecturers have demanded 바카라사이트 full package be paid.?

Maloba Wekesa, a senior lecturer at 바카라사이트 University of Nairobi and secretary general of its UASU branch, said that 바카라사이트 strikes would continue until 바카라사이트 government has met its obligations.?

¡°You cannot predict how long it will take. It will take as long as 바카라사이트 government is quickly able to deal with our demands,¡± he told?온라인 바카라.

He conceded that 바카라사이트 strikes have been ¡°extremely disruptive¡± for students. ¡°One month for students across public universities not going to 바카라사이트ir lecture rooms is a huge scale in terms of devastation to 바카라사이트ir studies.¡±

The government¡¯s resistance to striking a deal with academics showed that ¡°academia is not a priority¡±, Dr Wekesa added.

¡°My message is simple: keep your promises to your workers, and make sure education is never in shambles. It¡¯s not supposed to be in shambles.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com