TSC Faces Discrimination Allegations Amidst Intern Confirmation

TSC Faces Discrimination Allegations Amidst Intern Confirmation

TSC Faces Discrimination Allegations Amidst Intern Confirmation

There have been charges of discrimination against the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), especially with regard to junior secondary school (JSS) teachers who are employed under contract. The leader of the parliamentary delegation, Senator Esther Okenyuri, has expressed worry to the TSC Chair Nancy Macharia over the future of contract JSS teachers. She has raised the possibility of prolonged contracts rather than permanent jobs.

Senator Okenyuri has requested that the Senate Education Committee call Macharia to provide clarification on contract teachers eligibility for permanent jobs, given the impending January strike’s increased urgency. Questions concerning non-permanent and pensionable instructors, as well as annual recruiting data, also raise concerns about discrimination during ordinary replacement and recruitment operations.

Groups such as the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and Kwale teachers are becoming increasingly dissatisfied, threatening to go on strike if they are not fully absorbed by January 2024. Contract extensions are opposed by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), which raises the possibility of a teachers’ strike and parliamentary investigation.

Although Deputy President Gachagua orders TSC to provide intern teachers with permanent and pensionable job letters, JSS teachers—especially those in Homa Bay—remain dissatisfied, citing a year of service without suitable terms.

As the TSC navigates this complex situation, the Senate Education Committee’s involvement underscores its gravity, seeking clarification on discrimination claims, insights into career development plans for contract teachers, and policies governing their promotion.

The education industry is waiting for a solution that strikes a balance between TSC’s operating dynamics and the needs of contract teachers. The impending strike in January highlights the need for prompt and fair resolutions to guarantee stability in the teaching profession.