Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers in Kericho County have threatened to go on strike and withdraw their services once schools reopen for the first term should the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) fail to employ them on permanent and pensionable terms.
The JSS teachers issued a three-week notice to their employer saying they want to avoid a renewal of contracts as interns come January next year.
“We are saying come January, they are going to renew the contracts. We are not taking anything less than confirmation, we ask TSC not to renew the contracts of these teachers...we want TSC to confirm all JSS interns who were employed in January 2023," Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Kericho branch executive, Mary Rotich
The Kes 19,000 monthly salary has also drawn criticism from the intern teachers, who claim it does not cover their needs and is insufficient to satisfy the minimum wage.
JSS teacher Allan Kirui likened TSC's treatment of them to the "Shakahola massacre," threatening to take down their equipment if their demands are not fulfilled.
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“ We’re telling TSC to move with speed and confirm 21,000 teachers,” Kirui said.