A section of teachers employed by schools Board of Management (BoM) and those from private schools on Saturday received food and non-food items to cushion them from the impact of covid-19.
The teachers drawn from Mathioya Sub county received the support from Ahadi Kenya Trust after going for months without salary.
Since covid-19 hit the country in March this year, teachers from Private school and those employed by BM have been struggling to get food among other essential necessities for their families.
Director of the Ahadi Kenya Trust Dr. Stanley Kamau speaking when he distributed food to the teachers at Njumbi ACK Church said some of teachers have suffered from depression after being unable to cater for their families.
He asked the government to issue a directive to management of private schools to start paying their teachers even if in small allowances to at least meet their basic needs.
Kamau who through his organization donated assorted foodstuffs and non-food materials to 55 teachers observed that all tutors play key roles in giving education to young ones and as such those who teach in private schools should not be discriminated against.
“Teachers in public schools continue to enjoy their salaries but those who teach in private schools and those employed by BOM were left to suffer since they have been going without salaries,” observed Kamau.
The anti- jigger campaigner requested teachers from the private sector to come together and form a group so as to start some small businesses to earn a living.
“We don’t know when this pandemic will end. It’s my appeal for teachers to form a group which will help them to get some basic necessities,” added Kamau.
He said parents of private schools should support their teachers noting that once the schools reopen, the same teachers will be needed.
“With the current scenario, some teachers may opt to do other things and forget about teaching, so parents and also government’s intervention can ensure the affected teachers get food for their families,” he added.
One of the teachers, John Mwangi narrated how he has been doing menial jobs to support his family, adding that after closure of schools due to covid-19, he has been working as a casual laborer in tea farms at least to get food and pay rent.
“The government can come up with a strategy on how to assist teachers from the private sector. We all work to promote education in the country,” remarked Mwangi.
On her part Theresia Nyakairu who has been a BOM teacher for the last four years claimed that after the government closed schools, she has been seeking menial jobs from parents of her school.
“ We have been looked down by some of our parents when we go seeking jobs from their homes. The virus has reduced us to beggars and we pray that government support us as it has done to people in other sectors,” pleaded Nyakairu.
By Bernard Munyao
