Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers in Trans Mara, Narok County have vowed to continue holding continuous protests until the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) addresses their concerns. Among other things, JSS teachers are demanding better employment terms which include permanent and pensionable while the teachers service commission says it’s handicapped by lack of funds. In the next budget, there’s a plan to absorb around 26,000 JSS teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
JSS are demanding to be confirmed on permanent and pensionable (P&P) status and compensation as per a court order. Teachers in Emurua Dikir specifically complained about the “long distances from their homes to their workplaces” and the high cost of living straining their finances. They further highlighted that a recent court ruling declaring internships illegal has fueled their frustration.
“One year ago, the president promised to absorb us into permanent and pensionable positions after a year. However, they keep extending the internship period. This is unacceptable,” one of the affected JSS teachers lamented.
The interns are now asking President William Ruto to keep his word, saying the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is in danger.
Branch KUPPET Secretary Charles Ng’eno defended the teachers, stating that their requests should be fulfilled if the government is truly committed to CBC. Additionally, Ng’eno also asked for the government to provide an employment roadmap. He stated that Ksh17,000 was not enough considering the workloads of the JSS teachers.