Kuppet and TSC Are At Odds Over State of Intern Teachers.
Concerning the terms of tutors working under contract, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and the teachers’ employer have been at odds.
The instructors Service Commission (TSC), according to recent remarks made by the union, has stated that instructors under contract will continue to serve for an additional year before their terms of service are evaluated.
The TSC informed Members this week that until the government certifies that intern teachers are permanent and eligible for pensions, they will need to wait an additional year.
After two years of service, the 46,000 teachers’ terms of employment will automatically transition to permanent and pensionable (PNP), according to TSC Director of Teachers Staffing Antonina Lentoijoni.
“There are two intern groups. Two groups of people started working: those who started on February 1 and those who started on September 1. Letters of contract extension for an additional year are being discussed to be sent in December to those who signed contracts in February, according to Lentoijoni.
Speaking before the National Assembly Education Committee, which was presided over by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, she represented TSC.
Kuppet, however, stated yesterday that the TSC needs to follow through on its earlier promise and convert the teachers to permanent and pensionable status as soon as their first year of employment is over.
The plan to have teachers working on internship contracts at elementary and junior secondary schools (JSS) demoralizes them, according to Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori.
“Whereas the teachers employment contract clearly stipulates that they were to serve as interns for only one year, the TSC has not taken the necessary steps to employ them on a permanent basis from January 2024 when their current contract expires,” Misori stated.
He maintained that despite the demanding work environment, educators have shown their loyalty to the country by going above and beyond to assist students.
State of Intern Teachers
“Serving during an internship is essentially a patriotic deed. In order for these educators to assist in stabilizing their institutions in the upcoming year as JSS moves into the second year of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) transition and gain invaluable insights from the experience, they should be verified as permanent and pensionable right away”, Misori said.
The organization noted that, similar to their peers in the service, teachers still have to pay taxes and statutory deductions on top of their pitiful pay.
“The teachers have persisted despite working in a very discouraging environment. They only receive half of what they should be paid. They do not contribute to the same teacher pension plan and have access to health insurance. Ironically, they pay the same taxes—including the necessary housing levy and NSSF contribution—as other educators in their grade, according to Kuppet Secretary-General.
Misori pointed out that JSS teachers under elementary school principals have an even worse condition.
“In some schools, the JSS teachers have been forced to purchase their own teaching aid including textbooks, pens, writing pads, and chalks since primary schools where they work do not provide these basic necessities in the required quantities,” he stated.
State of Intern Teachers
