We Need Justice to be Prevailed to JSS Teachers!
Following the ongoing conflict between 21, 500 Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers and the government poses a significant threat to the educational system, potentially leading to a crisis. Originally employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to address teacher shortages, these interns are now demanding permanent and pensionable positions in accordance with what they claim was an agreement with the government.
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Despite President William Ruto’ s assurance of permanent employment after two years, the interns remain dissatisfied, as they consider themselves qualified and registered with the TSC, and therefore believe they do not require internship stipends but proper salaries.
” It is now a government practice for the intern teachers to work for two years before they are employed on Permanent and Pensionable terms,” president Ruto said at State House.
It remarked that the JSS intern teachers will be at work starting from January 2024 without fail and objections. Of course it was a promise given but due to financial straining the government calls upon for two year working under internship before employed for Permanent and Pensionable terms.
A court order currently prevents the termination of their contracts until the case is heard and resolved, which has emboldened the interns in their stance against resuming their duties. Led by the JSS National Interim Leadership, the teachers are emphasizing the need for adherence to the original agreement and advocating for immediate permanent employment. They reject any attempts to coerce them into new contracts, viewing such actions as a violation of the initial agreements.
Similarly,if their demand for permanent employment is not looked at keenly, the teachers have announced their intention to go on strike in January 2024. This could potentially disrupt the new curriculum system of education of JSS students. Complicating matters further, the clauses within the internship contracts prevent renewal or extension beyond January, creating a time- sensitive impasse.
” Many of our members have been called to sign new contracts that we don’t know anything about. We do not understand why we are being pushed to sign those contracts. And we are saying no permanent jobs, no teaching,” said Evans Ochieng’ a teacher from Nairobi.
He added; “we have been in court, we have an order and we shall not get back to class.”
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We Need Justice to be Prevailed to JSS Teachers!
