Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers in Kilifi County are urging the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to offer them permanent contracts, warning that they may not return to work next year if their demands are not met.
Speaking to the media in Kilifi Town, the teachers highlighted that they perform the same duties as their permanently employed colleagues but continue to receive significantly lower pay, a factor they say undermines their productivity.
Led by Mutuku Mutuku, the intern teachers stated that TSC intends to have them renew internship contracts instead of transitioning them to permanent positions, despite the expiration of their initial one-year contracts.
“We have worked diligently for a whole year, handling the same workload as permanent teachers, but our pay is still very low. It is unfair for TSC to ask us to sign another internship contract. We deserve confirmation,” Mutuku remarked.
The teachers also criticized Members of Parliament for failing to raise the matter in the National Assembly or push the Executive to allocate funds for their permanent employment. “Our MPs have remained silent on our issue. We are calling on them to raise our concerns in Parliament and ensure funds are set aside for our employment,” another teacher stated.
KUPPET Kilifi Branch Executive Secretary, Mogere Caleb, urged the government to comply with a court order abolishing teacher internship programs and to ensure that all qualified teachers are employed on permanent, pensionable terms immediately after graduation.
“The government should respect the court order and stop engaging teachers on internship. All qualified teachers should be employed on permanent terms immediately after graduating,” Mogere emphasized. He further added that permanent employment would alleviate the financial hardships faced by teachers due to the meager stipends during their internship period.
“Many of these teachers are struggling to make ends meet due to the low stipends they receive. Permanent employment will restore their dignity and improve their livelihoods,” he said.
The teachers also warned that the ongoing implementation of Competency-Based Education (CBE), particularly for Grade 10, could be disrupted if the shortage of JSS teachers continues.
