JSS Intern Teachers issue new threats to TSC, vow to paralyze Learning until TSC hires them on Permanent Basis
Intern teachers, countrywide, have vowed to continue paralyze leaning in Junior schools until their demands are met. The visibly angry teachers are particularly annoyed with the Teachers Service Commission, TSC, for failing to employ them on Permanent and Pensionable terms.
Nyeri County Junior School Interns.
More than 700 Junior Secondary Schools teachers in Nyeri County have vowed to paralyze learning in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in the region until such a time when the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will hire them on permanent and pensionable basis.
The intern teachers who held a demonstration in Nyeri Streets on Monday said that they would only report to the learning institutions after their employer, TSC, has issued them employment letters and compensated them for the 10 months they were underpaid.
“We have asked our members to stay away from schools until TSC grants us audience and issues us letters indicating that they have hired us on permanent and pensionable terms like the courts ordered,” said Purity Wangeci, the Chairperson, Kenya Junior Secondary Teachers Association (KEJUSTA), Nyeri.
The teachers also expressed their displeasure at the manner in which the government and the TSC was addressing the crisis.
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According to Ms. Wangeci, the tutors are appalled that legislators were more versed with their concerns as opposed to TSC which had taken a back seat.
They also wondered why TSC letters were being distributed by Members of Parliament and not by TSC.
“We feel neglected and demeaned because of the TSC’s response to our issues. TSC is yet to invite JSS teachers or their union representatives to discuss the way forward. They promised to hire us in June last year but that turned out to be another empty promise,” she said.
“We are also surprised to see MPs dishing out letters and some are giving us direction that we will be hired in June this year with our employer keeping off from the matter instead of being on the forefront of defending us,” she added.
Her sentiments were echoed by KEJUSTA’s organizing secretary Nyeri Peter Kinyua who said that the 900 JSS teachers in the county would only resume duty with a written agreement from their employer.
On his part, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers Nyeri branch chairman Francis Wanjohi pleaded with TSC to honour the court order directing the Teachers employer to hire the teachers.
He also warned of a possible collapse of the education system should the government urgently fail to address the issues.
Wanjohi blamed the government for rushing to implement a new curriculum without putting in place enough measures to address the human resource.
“First their salary is a pittance compared to the amount of work that these teachers are receiving as a salary of Sh17, 000 not even enough to sustain them through a month. TSC should move with speed and hire them like the courts ordered and then compensate them for the months that they unfairly paid so that we do not disrupt learning in our schools,” said Wanjohi.
In Narok County.
Tens of intern teachers drawn from the Junior Secondary School (JSS), have held peaceful demonstrations in Narok town, to push the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), to employ them on Permanent and Pensionable basis.
The young teachers who matched along the Narok Town streets vowed not to report back for the second term session, until they receive confirmation from their employer.
Josphat Kipng’eno wondered why TSC had ignored a Court Order that directed all the intern teachers to be employed on a permanent and Pensionable basis.
The teachers said the process of employing the teachers should be fair and transparent, alleging that the process of confirming them was not transparent, as some teachers had received confirmation letters in burial ceremonies.
Another teacher, Elias Kimorgo, said the teachers will not report back for the second term because the Court had ruled that the teacher’s internship was illegal, hence they do not want to engage in illegal activities.
“We are law abiding citizens hence we have to obey the Court Order. We will not be going back to school until we are confirmed,” said Kimorgo.
Dauphine Adhiambo, a JCC teacher said the Sh. 17, 000 salary that the intern teachers receive every month, does not meet their needs, hence called on TSC to consider employing them on a permanent basis.
“Some of us teach far from their homes, where we need to rent a house and buy food. In addition, we have families to take care of with the meager income. This makes our life very miserable,” said Ms. Adhiambo.
About 800 intern teachers were employed by TSC in 2023 to teach in the Junior Secondary School.
Speaking during a church service in Narok town, yesterday, Kiharu Member of Parliament, Ndindi Nyoro, backed the call of intern teachers and called on TSC to employ them on a permanent basis.
The teachers vowed to intensify their demonstrations if TSC did not heed to their demands.
Nakuru and Makueni Interns
Junior secondary school teachers in Makueni and Nakuru County took to the streets in demonstrations demanding better pay and employment on permanent terms.
In Nakuru, the demonstrations saw 2,419 teachers from 11 sub-counties joining forces, vowing not to return to school until their demands were met. Their requests include the confirmation of interns and compensation for the internship period.
These teachers are adamant that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) must adhere to a recent court ruling that declared intern teacher positions.
Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) ruled three weeks ago that the commission had violated their right to fair labour practice by offering them internship positions despite their qualifications and possession of teaching licenses.
Justice Byrum Ongaya’s ruling stated that the commission’s mandate is limited to hiring only those who are qualified and registered, not student-teachers or interns.
The teachers are now demanding permanent and pensionable employment terms. At a gathering in Wote, Makueni County, spokesperson Erastus Mawewu expressed their frustration at being paid a meager Ksh17,000 despite their qualifications.
“We are frustrated because the agreement was for a one-year contract, non-renewable. We filed a case in court and were assured that internship contracts were unlawful,” Mawewu stated.
“As patriotic teachers, we have dedicated ourselves to our profession, teaching under the new curriculum, often covering material we were never taught during our university education. Despite our qualifications – four years of university study – we are being paid a mere 17,000 shillings,” he added.
“We have sacrificed our time and efforts for the betterment of our students. Yet, we feel sidelined by the very government we voted into power. Our stance is clear: we will not report back to work until we are recognized and treated fairly,” he concluded.
