JSS Teachers Vow Paralyze Learning In Schools, Reasons

JSS Teachers Vow Paralyze Learning In Schools, Reasons.

Junior secondary school teachers in Tigania Central and Imenti North of Meru County have vowed not to resume classes until the government offers them permanent employment. These teachers, protesting against the government’s failure to confirm their permanent and pensionable status after two years as interns, accused the authorities of misusing their services.

Led by Gikundi Karutui, the disgruntled teachers voiced their frustration with the government’s inaction in addressing their concerns and fulfilling its promise to confirm approximately 26,000 teachers on permanent contracts.

Karutui stated adamantly that they would not return to classrooms unless the government compensated them for the time they spent working underpaid and officially confirmed their permanent terms.

The teachers, dissatisfied with their situation, visited their respective Teachers Service Commission (TSC) offices to demand answers and immediate action. Carolyne Gakii, one of the affected teachers, asserted their determination to continue striking until their grievances were addressed, highlighting their inability to sustain their services while receiving inadequate wages through the intern program.

Moreover, they accused the TSC of employing discriminatory practices in hiring junior secondary school teachers. Karutui called for transparency from the TSC in the hiring process, questioning the criteria that led to 2016 graduates being placed on internships while 2023 graduates were hired on permanent and pensionable terms, hinting at potential corruption.

The teachers urged the TSC to adhere to court rulings from the Employment and Labor Relations Court and demanded clarification on the deviation from the previously established formula for teacher employment based on years of graduation, voiced by Miriti Avezi. They also called for a clear timeline for contracts and emphasized the commission’s obligation to prioritize teachers’ welfare.

Furthermore, the protesting teachers urged the Kenya National Union of Teachers and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers to support their cause and pressure the government for resolution, ensuring a smooth learning experience when schools reopened.

JSS Teachers Vow Paralyze Learning In Schools, Reasons