CS Magoha Announces Reprieve for BOM Teachers, Face-To-Face Class Sessions to Resume In January 2021
Following the closure of all learning institutions in March, non-teaching staff and BOM teachers have been suffering without pay. CS Magoha’s announcement seems to have come just in time to bail them out of this difficult situation.
“Now those who had stopped working due to the lack of salaries should resume work and make sure that schools are maintained well,” said Prof George Magoha at a press briefing in Nairobi.
The education CS told the presser that the government is still committed to ensuring that government schools are well maintained and school staff does not have to suffer anymore. “The BOM teachers are employed by our schools and we have set aside finances to ensure they get paid,” said the CS.
Approximately 72,000 BOM teachers across the country have not received a penny as salary since the closure of all schools in March due to the novel COVID-19.
All basic learning institutions have raised the issue of not being able to pay teachers employed on BOM terms and non-teaching staff such as security guards, bursars, and secretaries over lack of funds. Some principals continued paying their BOM teachers and non-teaching staff until April while others stopped immediately after schools were closed in March siting depletion of the schools’ finances.
Tertiary institutions will resume in-person learning in January 2021 according to the CS. Prof George Magoha. He said that after a survey done at all Teacher Training Colleges, Technical and Vocational training institutions and Universities a small number of institutions has put the necessary mechanisms in order to comply with the Ministry of Health’s Coronavirus protocols that guarantee the safety of both learners and staff on the resumption of learning in those institutions.
“Ultimately, the final decision on the reopening of Teachers Training Colleges (TTCs), Technical and Vocational Training Institutions (TVETs) and Universities is dependant on the guidance provided by the Ministry of Health,” said CS Magoha.
In addition, CS Magoha said that universities will continue carrying out virtual learning and even virtual graduations. However, he stressed that it has to be done while adhering to the observance of the quality measures that were put in place by the Commission for University Education on the University Standards and Guidelines.
The Situation of BOM Teachers and Non-Teaching Staff So Far
BOM teachers and non-teaching staff have and are still probably going through a torrid time without pay since March.
There has been coverage of stories of BoM teachers not able to pay rent and have accumulated those rent arrears for four consecutive months so far. Some have been locked out of their rental houses while others have even lost their families over the same. It is a painful learning curve for these individuals and some resorted to manual work and other side hustles (which actually became their main jobs) over the past four months.
Conclusion
While this announcement is a huge help to the suffering BOM Teachers and non-teaching staff, there are still many unanswered questions concerning the issue. Schools were closed four months ago over COVID-19 but BOM teachers and non-teaching staff have not been paid for all those months.
It is not yet clear on the particular date the payment will be made but it might be at the end of July. Besides, will it take into account for all those months they have not been paid, or school heads will just start paying to start from whatever point the government will choose to release the funds? However, to the BOM teachers and non-teaching staff, this is a win.
GOD BLESS OUR PRESIDENT! GOD BLESS OUR ABLE CS MAGOHA ON REMEMBERING US NON TEACHING & SUPPORT STAFF, B.O.M. TEACHERS. (SECRETARY – MARIAKANI SECONDARY SCHOOL)