Intern tutors to wait longer for better terms

Intern tutors to wait longer for better terms

The fate of nearly 60,000 teachers hired as interns by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has been in a state of flux following a recent ruling by the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) declaring their employment contracts illegal.

However, a subsequent court directive has mandated that their employment status remains unchanged until the TSC either secures temporary orders from the Court of Appeal or reaches a compromise.

Justice Byrum Ongaya granted the TSC a grace period of three months to seek intervention from the higher court or absorb all affected teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.

In response to the court’s orders, the Kenya Junior Secondary School Teachers Association (KeJUSTA) expressed uncertainty regarding the interpretation of the term ‘status quo.’ KeJUSTA’s Secretary General, Daniel Murithi, cautioned teachers against misinterpreting the ruling and urged them to suspend judgment until further clarity is provided.

Meanwhile, the TSC has sought to suspend the judgment, citing concerns that it would disrupt its plans to employ interns next year. However, Justice Ongaya rebuffed the application, emphasizing the need to maintain the status quo until August 1, 2024.

He ruled that the TSC had violated the right to fair labor practices by appointing interns who were qualified and possessed teaching licenses, instead of hiring registered teachers as mandated.

The internship program, initially introduced to address teacher shortages in schools, particularly at the junior secondary level, has faced criticism and legal challenges. President William Ruto announced an extension of the program, delaying the absorption of interns on a permanent basis.

The court case highlighted discrepancies in the interns’ roles and remuneration, with complaints of being assigned multiple subjects beyond their contractual obligations and deductions from stipends for taxes and government contributions.

The case, filed by the Forum for Good Governance and Human Rights, underscored concerns about the interns’ lack of supervision and the broader implications for the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Affected teachers, such as Oroso Oganga, detailed their experiences of being assigned various subjects despite contractual agreements, underscoring the challenges and uncertainties facing educators caught in the midst of legal proceedings and policy shifts.

Intern tutors to wait longer for better terms