Bomet KUPPET Branch Deputy Executive Secretary Jackson Kipcheryot Tonui has strongly criticised the continued recruitment of teachers on internship terms by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), terming the move exploitative and detrimental to the teaching profession.
Speaking during a Thanksgiving service for Narok KUPPET Branch Deputy Executive Secretary John Kuroa in Transmara, Kipcheryot, popularly known as “One Kipcheryot”, took issue with what he described as judicial backing that allows TSC to sustain the internship programme.
He argued that the intervention undermines the dignity, stability and professionalism of teachers across the country.
“The continued reliance on internship engagements is unjustified, exploitative and unsustainable “Teachers deserve job security, fair pay, and recognition for their critical role in national development,” Kipcheryot said.
He called on the government to urgently allocate a supplementary budget to facilitate the immediate confirmation of all 44,000 intern teachers into permanent and pensionable terms.
According to him, failure to address the matter risks demoralising educators and weakening the quality of education in public institutions.
At the same time, Kipcheryot challenged union leaders at all levels to remain committed to serving teachers diligently.
The unionist emphasised that leadership within KUPPET should focus on restoring the dignity of the profession and improving the welfare of members.
“Service to humanity is service to God. Leaders must rise above personal interests and champion the rights and welfare of teachers with integrity and dedication,” he stated.
On education reforms, Kipcheryot reiterated that the push for autonomy in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) is inevitable and necessary for improving education standards.
He linked the reforms to global best practices, citing countries such as Singapore as benchmarks for quality education systems driven by specialisation and proper staffing.
“We must ensure that each level of learning is handled by appropriately trained professionals. This is the only way to guarantee quality education outcomes,” he added.
Kipcheryot further called for the urgent review of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), noting that current frameworks no longer reflect the realities facing teachers.
He urged stakeholders to fast-track reforms that address emerging challenges in the sector.
Kipcheryot also criticised what he termed as the misuse of administrative authority in Junior Secondary Schools, particularly the forced transfer of teachers who have served for less than five years in their initial stations under the PNP terms.
“Such actions are unfair and amount to a witch-hunt. There are many deserving cases of transfers that require urgent attention and should be prioritised instead,” he said.
Additionally, Kipcheryot urged the TSC to implement automatic promotions for teachers from job group C2 to C3 after three years of service, without subjecting them to cumbersome manual appraisal processes.
He pointed out that many teachers are currently awaiting these promotions, which are already more than three months overdue.
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The deputy executive secretary called for immediate action to resolve the delays, warning that prolonged stagnation in career progression could further demotivate teachers.
By Philip Koech
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