Junior school teachers in Isiolo County now want the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to clarify the employment status of over 44,000 intern teachers, following a court ruling that declared the internship programme unconstitutional.
The teachers said they were acting in solidarity with colleagues across the country who have warned that they may withdraw their services in the second term if the matter is not urgently addressed.
They are calling for the swift absorption of intern teachers into permanent and pensionable terms.
They also raised concerns over the management of junior secondary schools, calling for greater autonomy.
According to the teachers, the current administrative arrangements are hindering the smooth running of the institutions, particularly in academic and co-curricular programmes.
Isiolo Branch Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Mr. Moses Kiwmere urged the government to increase allowances for teachers handling co-curricular activities and to separate junior secondary programmes from those of primary schools.
A teacher, Mbae Gacheri, said intern teachers are demoralized for handling the same workload as their permanently employed counterparts, yet they receive meager allowances and call for their immediate confirmation.
KUPPET Vice Secretary Kefa Kibagedi appealed to the government to factor teachers’ demands into the impending national budget, warning of possible industrial action if the concerns are overlooked.
Another teacher, Sophia Mukami, called for full administrative independence for junior secondary schools, including control over co-curricular activities.
The teachers said addressing the issues would boost morale and improve the delivery of education in junior secondary schools.
By David Nduro
