Big Win for JSS Teachers 

Evans Wekesa, Nakuru.

Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers have all the reasons to smile after the National Treasury allocated KSh 13.4 billion to convert 46,000 intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms.

This was confirmed on Wednesday, 13th June 2024 by the  Cabinet Secretary in charge of National Treasury & Economic Planning, Professor Njuguna Ndung'u, while appearing before the National Assembly.

'Mr Speaker, I have proposed an allocation of 13.4 Billion to employ 46,000 Junior Secondary School intern teachers under permanent and pensionable terms,' he said.

His sentiments were confirmed by the Budget and Appropriation Committee chairperson, who doubles as Kiharu constituency Member of Parliament, Ndindi Nyoro, who said, 'I can assure this house there are now sufficient resources to confirm the JSS interns into permanent and pensionable terms,'  

This comes after the Teachers Service Commission issued a show cause letter to over 7357 teachers for professional misconduct and absconding duties that led to the termination of the contract of 742 teachers.

The move by TSC was condemned by the officials of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers, who termed it unfair.

'The dismissal goes contrary to the rules of natural justice demanding that no one should be condemned unheard,' asserted Moses Nthurima, the KUPPET Deputy Secretary General.

Earlier on, TSC had confirmed that JSS teachers serving as interns would be confirmed in January 2025 after serving as interns for two years. However, the teachers filed a case with the Employment and Labour Relations Court. The teachers also participated in a three-week strike that interfered with studies in their institutions. The court later ruled in their favour.

'Teachers Service Commission could only employ teachers on permanent terms and not as interns,' ruled Justice Bryam Ongaya.

The JSS teachers are against employment as interns, citing that a salary of Kshs 17,000 is so little for graduates of their caliber.