School Resumption:

Tiko Teachers vow to stay at home until their concerns are addressed

Mr. Che Patrick, DO Tiko

As the Anglophone problem continues to take new twists, some teachers, traditional and religious authorities amongst other personalities of the Tiko sub division have resorted to stay away from school premises until word from their representatives asks them to do otherwise. This was the decision arrived at during a consultation meeting organized on Friday 6 December 2016 at the behest of the DO for Tiko subdivision, Mr. Che Patrick Ngwashiri.

                According to the DO, the strike action by teachers has hampered school activities for the first term and it is not something the authorities can tolerate in the second term. He assured students, parents and other stakeholders that appropriate measures have been put in place to ensure that students resume classes on Monday 9 January.

                However, to Mayor Che Patrick, the educational system of the country has a problem it is not just the teachers of Francophone origin sent to teach in Anglophone schools.

                 ‘‘It is the same problem which the Francophone sector is also facing as these teachers (Anglophones) cannot teach in the French sector. So, Anglophones should not be complaining as the francophone also have the same complains''.

                Mayor Che Patrick further called on those present to be focused in their demands as the educational system has nothing to do with Federalism and succession which some are postulating. the present situation is even worrisome as the parents are the ones keeping their children at home not to go to school, especially those who are preparing for the GCE Examinations. A strong warning was given to those running social media platforms which are instead fueling violence instead of promoting peace and encouraging children to go back to their various schools.

                At the end of the come together, a joint communiqué was issued by those present to be forwarded to the higher authority calling on the government to engage in meaningful dialogue and to listen to what their elected officials are saying, only then will they be safe to go back to their various establishments and encourage the children to go back to school. As the teachers put it ''we cannot be holding meeting here when our elected officials are still trying to resolve the issues with the government. if we do go back to school, we will be betraying those we elected in to office to represent us. It is better we wait and here from our officials before we can go back to school''

                The come together organized by the DO for Tiko brought together some teachers, PTA presidents, religious and traditional authorities, members of the bike and taxi drivers union amongst other personalities.

                Speaking during the event, the principal of Regina Pacis exalted the government through the DO to look into the matter as fast as possible if they actually want school to resume for the second term. ''The underlying issues of the teachers have to be resolved if not we will go back to school and after bone week we go back to our houses because talks stalled between the teachers representatives and the government''

                The ball has been placed in the court of officials in the government to see how they can actually resolve the ongoing industrial strike action which has crippled the educational sector for months now. We wait to see what happens next on the part of the government as the teachers of Tiko say no school on Monday 9.