TSC Threatens to Dismiss Absent Intern Teachers Amid Protests.
Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers took to the streets, protesting against the government’s delayed employment promises. In response, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has issued a stern warning to intern teachers who have not reported to work since the second term began.
The TSC announced that by Friday, it would receive attendance reports from all schools to identify those who have absconded duty and initiate disciplinary measures. TSC Legal Affairs Director Cavin Anyuor, speaking before the National Assembly Education Committee, emphasized that these measures would be based on attendance records submitted by school heads, expected at the TSC headquarters on May 17.
Despite TSC’s directives for intern teachers to resume their duties, the teachers, supported by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), have pledged to continue their protests. Daniel Murithi, Secretary-General of the Kenya Junior Secondary Teachers Association, stated that the TSC’s requests would not deter their resolve.
“The fact that TSC is urging you to return to school means they know most teachers are not complying. They cannot replace 46,000 teachers even if they wanted to,” Murithi said on Wednesday.
This confrontation follows an April labor court ruling declaring the internship program illegal due to unequal pay for equal work. However, a stay order allows TSC to continue employing interns until August 1. TSC has stated it will only negotiate with the interns if it loses the appeal to overturn this ruling.
The TSC has cited a significant budget shortfall, claiming it needs Ksh 30 billion to permanently employ all intern teachers. As a solution, TSC proposes a phased absorption, starting with 26,000 interns in January 2025, requiring Ksh 8.3 billion for the first cohort.
The situation intensified after a group of nearly 60,000 intern teachers boycotted work on Monday, demanding better pay and the conversion of their contracts to permanent and pensionable positions.
Anyuor reiterated that appropriate actions would be taken in line with the stay orders from the labor court ruling. He confirmed that the commission is aware of the ongoing protests and has instructed schools to collect data on attendance by the end of the week. As a result, this data will guide the commission in applying the teacher’s code of conduct.
Speaking to the National Assembly Committee on Education about the upcoming budget for the 2024/2025 financial year, Anyuor highlighted the need for funding to address these employment issues. Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo pressed the commission for clarity on the future of the internship program and JSS if the courts uphold the ruling against the program.
In a compromise, TSC has indicated its readiness to negotiate with the interns if the court case does not go in their favor. The Labour Relations Court’s April ruling deemed the internship program illegal but allowed TSC to continue its current engagements until August 1.
“If we lose the stay on the court order outlawing the hiring of intern teachers, we will negotiate with these teachers to reach an understanding, initiating their conversion to permanent and pensionable positions starting January 2025,” Anyuor said.
The commission’s plan requires substantial funding, with Ksh 30 billion needed to employ all interns. Initially, 26,000 interns who have served for two years will be absorbed in January, necessitating Ksh 8.3 billion for their employment.
Some legislators have expressed support for the intern teachers, advocating for their absorption on improved contracts by July. This ongoing situation underscores the urgent need for a resolution to ensure stability and fairness in the education sector.
TSC Threatens to Dismiss Absent Intern Teachers Amid Protests.
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