肯尼亚教师持续第三周罢工

Kenya Teachers’ Strike Continues for Third Week 肯尼亚教师持续第三周罢工

Dispatch from Kenya: This article comes from James Mwangi, Director of Mavens Education Centre in Kenya, a private school in Kenya. Mr. Mwangi was the winner of an essay contest co-sponsored by VOA in July. 

The Supreme¹ Court of Kenya ruled in August for a pay increase of 50 to 60 percent for teachers. But the government says it doesn’t have the money, so the teachers’ unions have gone on strike.

Kenyan public schools have been without teachers for the third week. Over 10 million pupils in public primary and secondary schools are waiting for school to start. The fall term is considered crucial, especially for students who take national exams in October and November.

Student Mary Njuguna is studying for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. She said she and other students are reviewing study materials on their own.  

“And it is not easy, but we have no other option for now. There are still some subjects we are yet to complete the syllabus². Our prayer is that an agreement is reached sooner than later.”

The National Parents Association (NPA) has asked the government to delay the national exams. Public school students will not be prepared, they say.

Parents have lost confidence in public education, and many have transferred their children to private schools. Private schools are not affected³ by the teacher’s strike.

“We have already paid school fees for our children, and as days go by our children are still waiting for the teachers,” says Tom Amwai, a guardian⁴.

“We ask the Government and the Unions to be considerate of our children, who lost two weeks in January and now another three weeks in September.”

The government insists that the 50 percent increase is not financially sustainable. President Uhuru Kenyatta created controversy⁵ recently when he commented on the issue.

“Over 50 percent of what government collects now goes to paying salaries and with new demands; we will be at 60 per cent. What is going to be left for development? We have to start looking at some of these demands against the economic reality. To pay more, we must be able to make more first.”

Akello Misori, an official with the teachers’ union, has asked the government to respect the court rulings.  

"The only option that the government has is to pay the teachers. Teachers in this country are not going to be subjected to slavery.”

The chairman of the teacher’s union, Mudzo Nzili, says the country’s teachers will not return to school without the pay raise. He says the government has the funds. He says several state-owned companies have received assistance. For example, the Mumia Sugar Factory received about $26 million in February.

“This good government has a lot of money. It may only not have settled on payment because they are not willing, but the moment they begin to take interest they will do it... So the argument that the government has no money does not hold water.”

The Teacher Service Commission (TSC) is a government-mandated organization to manage teacher employment. TSC Chair Dr. Lydia Nzomo announced at a press conference on September 14 that the strike is illegal and promises not to pay the teachers for the three weeks they have not worked.

“Their salaries will be stopped and their names struck out of the TSC payroll⁶. No work no pay,” says Ms. Nzomo.

The stalemate hurts the quality of education. According to 2012 figures, the student-teacher ratio (the number of students per teacher) averages 47 for primary schools in Kenya. UNESCO recommends about half that number: 24 students per teacher.

Mr. Nzili says the government should obey the ruling of the court in order to end the strike.

“The government has the constitution to follow. And the Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. And the learned judges took into consideration the economic situation of the country and the sustainability of the demand, and therefore we expect the government to find the ways and means of complying with the court order ... We have every confidence that the government will try to save the situation and rescue the dwindling⁷ education sector⁸ in Kenya.”

Supporters of the government called on the union leadership to work out a deal with the government to get teachers to return to work. But the teachers’ union leader disagreed. He said the government has known about teachers' demands since January, but did not set aside enough money for it.

“We need commitment. We need some people to come and say we are committed to pay and we shall pay like this. But we cannot be lost in the woods and seek for any negotiation⁹ from people who have themselves not initiated¹⁰ negotiations¹¹. And in any case, a court order is not negotiable.”

The teachers and their supporters are wearing green ribbons to show that they agree with the union's position.

Words in This Story

sustainable - adj. able to last or continue for a long time

controversy - n. argument that involves many people who strongly disagree about something 

hold water - expression. (said of a statement, theory, or line of reasoning) appear to be valid¹², sound, or reasonable.

stalemate - n. a contest, dispute, competition, etc., in which neither side can gain an advantage or win

dwindle¹³ - v. to gradually become smaller or weaker

negotiable - adj. able to be discussed and changed before an agreement or decision is made

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 syllabus   

n.教学大纲，课程大纲

参考例句：

• Have you got next year's syllabus?你拿到明年的教学大纲了吗？
• We must try to diversify the syllabus to attract more students.我们应该使教学大纲内容多样化，可以多吸引学生。

3 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

4 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

5 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

6 payroll   

n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额

参考例句：

• His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
• I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。

7 dwindling   

adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The number of wild animals on the earth is dwindling. 地球上野生动物的数量正日渐减少。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority. 他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。 来自辞典例句

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

10 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

11 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

12 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？

13 dwindle   

v.逐渐变小（或减少）

参考例句：

• The factory's workforce has dwindled from over 4,000 to a few hundred.工厂雇员总数已经从4,000多人减少到几百人。
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority.他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。