TSC Intern Teachers Ignore a New Regulation
Intern teachers in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) have criticised a new rule imposed by the teachers service commission (TSC) ,mandating them to complete a two-year term before acquiring permanent and pensionable status.
When TSC announced that intern teachers wouldn’t be confirmed on permanent terms until 2025, it sent shockwaves through the profession.
This is a major change from the former policy, which included intern teachers in permanent positions with benefits after only one year of service.
The Commission’s recruitment of a large number of intern teachers, in addition to the country’s economic woes, have led to this new strategy.
Director of Staffing Antonina Lentoijoni and Director of Legal Affairs Calvin Anyuor explained to the Education Committee in Parliament that the 46,000 teachers currently working on internship terms will be upgraded to permanent and pensionable status after two years of service.
Collins Oyuu, the SG of KNUT, and Nancy Macharia, CEO of TSC, at a previous occasion. Collins Oyuu, the SG of KNUT, and Nancy Macharia, CEO of TSC, at a previous occasion.
The Commission is adamant that no educator would be given tenure without completing the mandatory two-year internship.
TSC emphasises the fact that it presently employs 46,000 instructors from elementary, middle, and high schools on internship terms.
Many intern instructors are unhappy with the planned contract extension because they will not receive appropriate compensation that keeps up with the rising cost of living.
The Commission initially hired 20,000 intern instructors in February, and then another 20,000 in August. To boost the total number of intern instructors to 46,000, TSC renewed the contracts of 4,005 teachers whose one-year term ended in December 2021 and assigned 1,995 additional intern teachers to schools in January 2022.
Primary school interns are paid Kshs. 15,000 per month, whereas secondary school interns are paid Kshs.
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