Union supports intern teachers’ strike, seeks talks
Union supports intern teachers’ strike, seeks talks
On Tuesday, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) declared its support for the ongoing walkout by intern teachers and urged the government to reserve money for tutoring.
The protest is taking place against the backdrop of extended school closures caused by widespread flooding across the country, endangering the education of nearly 2.5 million Grade 8 and 9 pupils in junior secondary schools (JSS).
According to a portion of the letter sent by Kuppet secretary general Akello Misori, “learning has been paralysed in all JSS classes as the teachers protest for the second day running.”
Misori requested their action in three letters to the Teachers Service Commission, the National Treasury, and Parliament in order to allow instruction to resume.
“The commission ought to have the authority to resolve the teachers’ complaints through legal negotiations. 46,000 intern teachers—the bulk of whom are employed by the JSS—should have their employment terms regularized as a result of the process, he stated.
The union has requested a sit-down discussion with the employer, TSC, in an effort to find a cooperative way to end the standoff.
The letter says, “Given the gravity of the situation, we would appreciate meeting your side as soon as possible.”
The union has requested that the Treasury set aside money for the interns’ employment in a separate letter.
The letter states, “In light of the aforementioned, the National Treasury should promptly begin the process of allocating resources for the Teachers Service Commission, in order to employ teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.”
The Principal Secretary of the National Treasury is the recipient of the May 14 letter.
The head of Nairobi’s intern teachers, Owino Okello, declared on Monday that his group will not back down from a strike in the face of intimidation.
Citing a court decision, he said that trained, registered, and licensed instructors no longer had internship status. “We will obey the court’s ruling by staying away from schools for internships in light of the Labour Relations Court’s ruling in Nairobi and the subsequent nullification of internship for trained, registered, and licensed teachers,” Okello declared.