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Walk-out closes Kenya's schools | Walk-out closes Kenya's schools |
(10 minutes later) | |
Unions in Kenya have declared the first day of a nationwide walk-out by some 230,000 teachers "100% successful". | Unions in Kenya have declared the first day of a nationwide walk-out by some 230,000 teachers "100% successful". |
A BBC correspondent in Nairobi says some primary school pupils found their classes empty and so played or tried to give each other lessons. | |
Billed as the "mother of all strikes", the open-ended action follows the collapse of pay negotiations. | Billed as the "mother of all strikes", the open-ended action follows the collapse of pay negotiations. |
The education minister said the strike was illegal and blamed teachers, saying they kept changing their position. | The education minister said the strike was illegal and blamed teachers, saying they kept changing their position. |
On Sunday the government had urged parents to take their children to school despite the threat of industrial action. | On Sunday the government had urged parents to take their children to school despite the threat of industrial action. |
Inflation fears | Inflation fears |
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) said lessons had been cancelled in most of the country's 18,000 public primary schools, which cater for some 8.2 million pupils. | The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) said lessons had been cancelled in most of the country's 18,000 public primary schools, which cater for some 8.2 million pupils. |
BBC Nairobi correspondent Ruth Nesoba says it was all play and no work for pupils at one school she visited and parents arrived early to take their unsupervised children home. | |
KNUT secretary general Lawrence Majali said he had gone into hiding fearing government reprisals. | KNUT secretary general Lawrence Majali said he had gone into hiding fearing government reprisals. |
From his hideout, he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme: "The strike has been 100% successful. Teachers are not in school, students have gone and gone back home. | From his hideout, he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme: "The strike has been 100% successful. Teachers are not in school, students have gone and gone back home. |
"We are ready to negotiate even now because it can be even off today if they so wish." | "We are ready to negotiate even now because it can be even off today if they so wish." |
The union and government have already agreed to increase pay from $130 (£90) to $176 (£120) per month for the lowest-paid teachers. | The union and government have already agreed to increase pay from $130 (£90) to $176 (£120) per month for the lowest-paid teachers. |
The monthly salaries of the most-qualified teachers will more than double, from $513 (£350) to $1,154 (£795). | The monthly salaries of the most-qualified teachers will more than double, from $513 (£350) to $1,154 (£795). |
But the government wants to phase in the wage increase over three years and teachers fear an inflation rate running at around 26% a year will render the raise worthless. | But the government wants to phase in the wage increase over three years and teachers fear an inflation rate running at around 26% a year will render the raise worthless. |
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