Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Embu County Branch, has petitioned the Government to convert Junior Secondary Intern Teachers into permanent and pensionable terms before schools open for next year’s school calendar.
Led by Branch Executive Secretary, Jacob Karura, the officials said the 20,000 intern teachers contracted by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), for one year to bridge the staffing gap following introduction of Competency-Based Education (CBE), had served diligently and deserved to be converted into permanent employment.
Karura said they had demonstrated dedication and professionalism in supporting the smooth rollout of grade 7, 8 and 9 carrying out the same responsibilities as their fellow teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
Speaking during a press briefing in Embu Town, Wednesday afternoon, the officials said their labor terms should be looked into as a matter of priority, before their contract ends on December 31st.
Karura said it would be exploitative and against labor laws should the government opt to continue engaging them on contractual basis.
He asked the government to move with speed to confirm them into permanency, before recruiting of the planned next cohorts slated for January next year.
While echoing his sentiments, another KUPPET official, Miriam Wawira, noted that the teachers were demoralised given their meager pay of between Sh. 15,000 and 20, 000, that was not commensurate with their training and workload.
She said the only way for the government to appreciate their contribution to the success of CBE rollout, was to ensure they were absorbed into permanent pay.
The officials threatened to move to court if the government failed to heed to their call and continue engaging them on contractual terms.
Meanwhile, Manyatta Member of Parliament (MP), Gitonga Mukunji, has written to the National Assembly, requesting for a statement over the same matter.
In his statement, the MP requested for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education, regarding their conversion into permanent employment.
He argued that their future remains in limbo, given their contracts are about to lapse with no word from the government on the way forward.
By Samuel Waititu
