Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has met with the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) in an effort to resolve the ongoing stalemate at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) and other universities affected by frequent lecturers’ strikes.
Speaking after the meeting, Ogamba stated that the discussions had established a framework to guide negotiations and facilitate the swift resumption of learning activities.
Key issues addressed included a structured return-to-work formula aimed at resolving concerns over lecturers' pay and remuneration.
"We have been working on a return-to-work formula, and the technical team comprising the Ministry of Education, TUK staff, and management has developed a recovery roadmap for the university," Ogamba stated.
''This will help establish a sustainable structure and agreement to ensure stability at TUK,'' he added.
Following the meeting, Ogamba assured the staff that his ministry would work closely with them to ensure their grievances were addressed in a timely manner.
"The Ministry of Education will continue to work together with the unions and the university to develop a sustainable framework that will address key concerns such as improving the organisational structure and promoting industrial harmony through the timely redress of grievances," he added.
The meeting comes amid ongoing challenges in the higher education sector, including issues at the University of Nairobi, where there is a deep disconnect between the staff and the university council.
Additionally, TUK was indefinitely closed by the management after lecturers refused to continue working over salary demands.
All students were directed to vacate the university following its closure. However, they have been staging protests to demand the reopening of the institution to allow them to continue their studies.
Last Tuesday, hundreds of TUK students who had organised a march to the Ministry of Education offices at Jogoo House in Nairobi were met with teargas and running battles with police officers.
Additionally, the higher education sector is grappling with challenges in the funding model, as the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) struggles to provide financial support to thousands of students across the country.
