Junior secondary school (JSS) intern teachers in Kisumu Central Sub County have protested against the government’s plans to renew their contracts under the same terms.
The teachers, led by Zablon Awange, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Kisumu County Executive Secretary, insisted on being confirmed on a permanent and pensionable basis, rejecting what they perceived as an attempt by the Teachers Service Commission to exploit them.
Awange, speaking on behalf of the protesting educators, emphasized that the teachers’ service commission was seeking to take advantage of the interns, a situation they were not willing to tolerate.
The group, brandishing placards, marched through the streets of Kisumu to make their grievances known, with Awange asserting that junior secondary school teachers should be permanently stationed where they rightfully belong.
Highlighting the need for proper infrastructure, Awange argued that junior secondary school teachers must be assigned to secondary schools across the country.
He emphasized that interns should be equipped to teach the subjects they were trained for at the university level.
Notably, Awange expressed concern about some teachers who were reportedly overworked, handling up to fourteen subjects.
Following their demonstration, the teachers presented a petition to the offices of the county Teachers Service Commission (TSC) director.
However, their attempt to enter Prosperity building, which houses education officials, was unsuccessful.
Despite engaging with the officers on site, they were denied access to the premises.
KUPPET Secretary General, Akello Misori, echoed the teachers’ demands, urging the government to confirm the intern teachers.
Misori emphasized that the group’s contracts should not be merely renewed but should lead to permanent and pensionable positions.
He strongly opposed the practice of engaging teachers as interns for prolonged periods, deeming it illegal.
By Fredrick Odiero
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