TSC had planned to fire striking teachers

TSC had planned to fire striking teachers

TSC had planned to fire striking teachers

Reports state that intern teachers who were organizing a January walkout received  unpleasant news from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

In order to replace the striking intern teachers  with unemployed graduate  instructors,  the Commission’s plan called for ending the  intern teachers’ contracts and then  re-advertising their openings.

Currently, TSC has 46,000 teachers working as interns in elementary, secondary,  and junior secondary education.

Before being given the opportunity to convert to permanent terms, TSC has  requested that all intern teachers extend their contracts for an additional year.

The Commission, however, states that it is unable to hire intern instructors on a  regular and pensionable basis right now due to budgetary limitations.

TSC’s proposal suggests a two-year internship contract before potential conversion to permanent and pensionable terms in 2025. While some intern teachers have agreed to and complied with contract renewal, a faction of junior secondary intern teachers has adamantly refused. They are demanding immediate employment on permanent and pensionable terms, as previously agreed upon, posing a potential crisis for the schools where they are posted.

President William Ruto had assured junior secondary school (JSS) interns of employment after completing two years of service, but some interns find this arrangement uncomfortable. They argue that, being qualified and registered with TSC, they should not be treated as if still in college training, receiving stipends instead of salaries.

Supported by a ruling from Justice Byram Ongaya prohibiting TSC from ending  the interns’ contracts, the interns have stated that they will not be returning to work  when classes resume.

Until the legal proceedings are over, TSC  and the Ministry of Education are  expressly prohibited by court direction  from changing the terms of internship  contracts.

The intern teachers, whose representatives were JSS National Interim Leadership,  issued a warning, stating that an educational crisis might result from their failure  to report to work in January.

They express discontent with attempts to prolong the internships to two years and  insist on adhering to the original arrangement of a one-year non-renewable internship contract before permanent employment offers.

The government, according to the instructors, is forcing them to sign new contracts  that go against their initial understanding.