Reinstate sacked JSS teachers or face censure, Cherargei tells TSC
Reinstate sacked JSS teachers or face censure, Cherargei tells TSC
Across the nation, 7,357 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers are set to be fired by the Teacher Service Commission.
A group of lawmakers, led by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, demanded that the commission quickly reverse its harsh disciplinary action or risk being censured by the legislature.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament Buildings, Cherargei demanded that the Teachers Service Commission start the process of hiring all 46,000 of the intern teachers on a permanent and pensionable basis right away.
“We are asking the Teachers Service Commission to rescind the termination of contract and recall the 7,357 letters that were sent to Junior Secondary School teachers, the measure taken is very punitive and is unacceptable,” said Cherargei.
The Nandi Senator said that the commission led by CEO Nancy Macharia will next week be summoned to appear before parliament to explain the rationale behind the unpopular decision should they fail to rescind it by the end of this week.
In a statement released yesterday, TSC acknowledged that 742 JSS teachers had been fired, not 7,357 tutors. It also stated that the teachers had been relieved of their duties as a result of widespread demonstrations in which thousands of people took to the streets to call for permanent employment.
10,348 teachers who had skipped work on May 13, 2024 were sent show-cause letters by the commission asking them to provide an explanation for their whereabouts. The letters were sent on May 22 to the protesting teachers who had absconded from their duties and urged them to respond within two weeks.
“Out of 10,348 teachers who received the show-cause letters, 9,606 teachers were able to respond within the two weeks, 742 teachers who did not report to work and whose whereabouts were not known had their contracts terminated and replaced,” said the commission.
Cherargei termed the decision made by TSC as unfair and against human rights as enshrined in the constitution terming it as unjust, and that it was against all human rights to terminate the contracts of these young patriots who have served with diligence.
He said that it should be remembered that the teachers had pioneered CBC Education despite the poor working conditions and lack of requisite facilities and that they have enabled pupils in all schools across the country to adjust to the programme.
The Nandi Senator accused the teachers’ employer of turning into hypocrites by terminating the contracts of the teachers who had already called off their strike since they were simply advocating for improved terms and employment to permanent and pensionable terms.
“Junior Secondary School and Intern-teachers have remained demoralized, frustrated, stressed and mentally disturbed due to blackmail and intimidation they have been put through by the Teachers Service Commission, County Education Directors and the School Heads,” said Cherargei.
The Standard obtained termination letters dated June 6, which revealed that multiple teachers had been fired due to what the TSC considered professional misconduct. The Commission had determined that the internship would terminate on June 6, 2024, due to the teachers’ involvement in professional misconduct.
Referencing the show cause letter from May 22, 2024, in which they were given the chance to explain why their internship should not be terminated due to professional misconduct, the letters claimed that the teachers had abandoned duty with effect from May 13, 2024, while employed as intern teachers.
The instructors Service Commission clarified that it had decided to terminate the employment of instructors who were unable to defend themselves after carefully reviewing some of the responses and finding them to be inadequate.