Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General Collins Oyuu has said that they are not in support of teachers attending training over the weekends.
Besides, he assured teachers that the teachers’ union will address anything that undermines teachers’ rights.
While referring to training of teachers in Bomet County that was scheduled to take place over the weekends in October 2022 but was later called off following protests from the union, Collins Oyuu said that teachers and their right to worship should be respected.
“Just the other week, a County Director of Education (CDE) summoned teachers in Boment County to attend a training on Saturdays and Sundays. The Seventh Day Adventists go to church on Saturdays and others on Sundays. My big question is, is this Director with knowledge on what we had agreed with the Teachers Service Commission and the Ministry of Education?” asked Oyuu.
The union had protested the Ministry of Education’s decision to train teachers in Bomet County over the weekend arguing that it infringed on the teachers’ rights of being off-duty during the weekends.
Mr Malel Langat, the KNUT National Executive Council Member and Bomet branch Executive Secretary called for the training to be held on weekdays.
The targeted teachers were to undergo training on the review of curriculum designs and instructional materials for Kiswahili, English and Literacy learning.
Oyuu revealed that he had contacted the outgoing Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha over the issue to stop the training immediately.
“This is to bring to your attention that the CBC (Competency-Based Curriculum) Grades 1, 2 and 3 training is scheduled until further notice. This information should urgently reach the participants,” read part of a notification issued by Bomet County Director of Education Mr Apollo Apuko to Sub-County Directors of Education in Bomet County.