Kenyan union slams plan to send 200 teachers to Sudan

April 10, 2006 (NAIROBI) — A Kenyan union raped government plan to send 200 teachers to Sudan demanding authorities to first tackle posting teachers to understaffed districts before entering into “exporting” agreements, the Kenyan the Standard reported.

The government has been urged to shelve plans to enter into an agreement with the Sudanese government to deploy 200 teachers.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) national officials, led by secretary-general Wanyonyi Buteyo, said the government should first tackle posting teachers to understaffed districts before entering into “exporting” agreements.

They spoke on Saturday 8 April during the Murang’a branch elections where all the officials, led by branch executive secretary, Peter Gichia, were re-elected.

During the meeting, Meru South union branch executive secretary, Njeru Kanyambu, declared his candidature to oppose Buteyo for the secretary-general’s post during the national polls slated for June. Buteyo said secondary schools in most parts of the country were faced with acute shortage of teachers forcing some take 28 lessons per week.

On the controversial remaining salary phase, Buteyo said Kuppet advocates for dialogue rather than entering into confrontation with the government.

(The Standard)