Teachers have been warned of salary stoppage if they do not embrace the government’s Community Based Learning Program (CBL). Education Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS), Zack Kinuthia, says all tutors employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) must register for the exercise or get their salaries stopped.
“Teachers who fail to register for the Community Based Learning will not get paid. Such teachers would be considered to have absconded (duty),” Kinuthia warned.
Teachers had up to Friday (August 21, 2020) to enlist for the CBL; an exercise that is expected to kick off in September. By Tuesday last week TSC said about 224,000 tutors had registered; with 155,176 being primary school teachers.
Teachers are expected to register and work within their communities; where they live.
Schools have been closed for about 6 months, now, as a result of the covid-19 pandemic. The CAS says the CBL program will not replace the main curriculum but is meant to keep learners busy.
Churches, open fields, schools and social halls will be used during the CBL classes. According to guidelines from the Ministry, each class will have a maximum of 15 learners. Teachers must ensure full compliance with the Ministry of Health’s guidelines on covid-19.
There has been a push by the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and World bank to have salaries for teachers stopped as the have been off duty. The bodies base their argument on the International Labour Organization (ILO) laws.
The principle of equal pay for work of equal value is enshrined in the ILO Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) . It protects the right to equal pay.
Other organizations like UNESCO, want African countries to consider safe reopening of schools. UNESCO says prolonged closure of schools is harming learners.
Back to CBL, teachers’ unions have supported the program urging teachers to embrace it.
It remains to see it indeed the exercise will succeed, considering the fact that no specific syllabus will be taught.
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