The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has called for the removal of internship system, saying that teachers should be employed directly on permanent and pensionable terms, as provided by law.
Speaking in an interview with one of the local radio station, KUPPET Chairperson Omboko Milemba said that Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has no legal authority to hire teachers as interns, and that the practice is “wasting our teachers”.
“TSC, by law, does not have the authority or powers to employ teachers as interns. The law we passed in Naivasha clearly requires that teachers be employed on a permanent and pensionable basis. We are strongly advocating that internships be removed. Employment should be permanent and pensionable, exactly as the law provides,” said Milemba.
Milemba also raised concern over the stalled teachers promotions, saying that actual promotions stopped in 2017-2018 and that about 20,000 intern teachers face contract expirations this November and need to be employed on permanent and pensionable terms (PNP).
“Currently, we have 20,000 teachers whose contracts are expiring this November, and a budget must be created to address this. On Thursday, God willing, I will be petitioning Parliament,” he added.
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Milemba said the parliamentary petition will focus on three main issues: stalled promotions, the expiring contracts of intern teachers, and the case of a teacher who died in Lumakanda and whose body was found mutilated.
On teacher promotions, Milemba highlighted that only 25,000 teachers are currently promoted each year, far below the 50,000 promised by President William Ruto.
“While the union has previously worked with the TSC to “mop up” leftover promotion funds, many teachers remain stagnant. A structured plan is being developed in consultation with the Education Committee in Parliament to ensure timely promotions and proper budget allocation.”
“Promotions are one of the biggest challenges for teachers in this country because they completely stopped in 2017-2018,” he said.
He further revealed that the union is now developing a structured plan in consultation with the Education Committee in Parliament to ensure timely promotions and proper budget allocation, aiming to meet the President’s target of promoting 50,000 teachers annually.
Milemba also criticised delays in the disbursement of capitation funds to schools, noting that some institutions went through the entire third term without money due to prolonged verification processes.
He urged the cabinet secretary to ensure schools and teachers receive funds on time to avoid further disruptions.
By Juma Ndigo
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