National Assembly has intervened for Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers hired in January 2023 as they are expected to be employed on Permanent and Pensionable (P and P) terms starting July 1.
The 26,000 teachers were to be confirmed in January next year in earlier communication from the Teachers Service Commission.
However on Monday, May 27, Education Committee led by Julius Melly informed the Budget and Appropriations Committee that KSh8.3 billion has been allocated for their employment.
Melly told the budget committee, “The Teachers Service Commission should streamline the recruitment process to ensure that resources allocated to this function are utilised fully at the beginning of the next financial year.”
“The commission should convert the 26,000 intern teachers to P and P terms beginning July 2024 and January 2025 as earlier indicated.”
There have been demonstrations across the country by JSS interns who have been demanding P and P terms.
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However, according to some sources, a number of them have received show cause letters for being absent from work with TSC saying that the court order issued earlier in favour of JSS interns was stayed until August 1, 2024.
Recently, Justice Bryrum Ongaya of the Employment and Labour Relations Court on April 17, in his ruling, said that the teachers’ employer has violated the interns’ right to fair labour practice as they are qualified and possess teaching licenses.
“Ideally, the first respondent should employ registered teachers on terms that are not discriminatory and to meet the optimal staffing needs in public schools,” the ruling said.
Forum for Good Governance and Human Rights has gone to Court to challenge the Teacher Internship Programme.
The internship started in 2019 with those teaching in secondary receiving KSh20,000 while their primary counterparts taking home KSh15,000.
By Joseph Mambili
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