The Senate has summoned the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) over the push and pull with the Junior Secondary Schools – JSS Interns who have threatened to strike in January.
The interns are accusing the commision of lying to them. TSC had promised to transit them into permanent and pensionable terms but is now extending their contract for another year which the interns have vowed to oppose.
The Senate, Led by nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri, want answers as to whether the teachers were eligible for employment on permanent terms or not. She now wants the Senate Education Committee chaired by Nyeri Senator Joseph Nyutu, to summon Macharia to explain the concerns.
Also Read: KUPPET And TSC Differ Over Recruitment of JSS Interns
“The committee should explain whether these contract-employed teachers are eligible for employment by TSC on permanent and pensionable terms and whether there is a career growth path plans in place by the TSC to grow and advance the careers of these young contract employed teachers.”
The interns who have in various occasions been quoted lamenting about the poor salary despite tough working conditions and high work load have said it will not be business as usual come January. With some areas already experiencing demonstrations by the interns who are seeking audience with the commision.
Nancy Macharia however mantained that the commision has not budgeted for thr permanent employment of these interns and they will have to work for an extra year under temporary terms to be eligible for permanent employment.
Read: JSS Interns Lock Horns With TSC Over Permanent Employment
Siding with the JSS interns are the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and Kenya National Union Of Teachers (KNUT) who are insisting that the teachers should be transitioned to permanent terms as earlier agreed.
“We sat with TSC and signed a Memorandum of Understanding that says the teachers have been accepted as interns. Our proposal was for one year but now saying the contracts might be renewed… That will not happen,” KNUT’s Collins Oyuu stated.
The JSS Interns have now given the Teachers Service Commission an ultimatum of up to January to have them absorbed under permanent terms or else they will paralyse operations in Junior Secondary Schools which are now dependant to be fully functional for the Competency Based Curriculum to work.