Prof Olweni:Schools must reopen anyway

Back to school round up

January 4,2010

By Eugene Omilo

The ongoing national matatu strike  affected yesterday’s schools’ reopppening as students and teachers were left stranded  on bus terminals.

A spot check in various schools within the central business district showed most students and teachers had not reported to school  and even those who  reported had not started learning yet.

The  available means of transport available were exorbitantly expensive forcing  students  to opt  either to walk school or stay at home. 

At  Star of the Sea primary school, only a quarter of the school’s 1200 pupils had reported by mid morning.

The school’s headteacher Sr. Ruth Musyoki  said the strike brought a bad start to learning in the schools as no meaningful teaching could take place with the low attendance.

“Our pupils and teachers have been trapped in the matatu crisis.We appeal to the transport ministry to negotiate with matatu owners to resolve their stand off,” she said.

A similar scenario was experienced at the Aga Khan primary school in Kizingo where attendance was at its minimum.

Several teachers had not reported by noon owing tio the strike.

The school’s deputy headteacher Mr. Constatine Chibanza  said teaching would not commenec soon as the strike has brought a lot of inefficiency in normal school operations.

“The government should listen to the matatu owners and settle the issues with them or change the oppenning date until when order has resumed,” said Mr. Chibanza.

Mombasa branch Knut Executive Secretary Ahaya Juma Ahaya blamed Education ministry officials for neglecting advice from the national parents association that the oppening date   be changed afeter the matatu operators issued their strike notice.

“Even the assistant minister Prof Ayiecho Iolweny was aware but he indicated that the date wont be changed,” said Ahaya in a telephone interview.

“That was a clear indication that the officials are out of touch with what was happening at the time.Our pupils and teachers will now be inconvinienced for no reason,”added Ahaya.

He appealed to the government to negotiate with matatu owners to end the stike so that learning resumes fully sa soon as possible.

ENDS.