Embu: Junior Secondary School (JSS) Intern Teachers in Embu County protested on Friday, demanding immediate confirmation into permanent and pensionable terms as their current contracts are set to lapse in a month.
According to Kenya News Agency, the protest was led by officials from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Embu branch. The intern teachers have threatened to strike when schools reopen in January if their demands are not met. Jacob Karura, the Branch Executive Secretary, stated that KUPPET would mobilize all members to support industrial action in solidarity with these teachers if the government fails to confirm the intern teachers by January.
Karura emphasized that it will not be business as usual if their demands are not addressed. He underscored the importance of safeguarding the welfare, professional dignity, and working conditions of all teachers, and called for urgent engagement and resolution from the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The protesting teachers expressed their dissatisfaction by waving placards and singing solidarity songs, highlighting the challenging conditions they face with earnings insufficient to match their training and workload. They voiced their readiness to resort to legal action and withdraw their services when schools reopen if their grievances remain unaddressed.
JSS Teacher Kelvin Mutugi noted the teachers’ commitment and professionalism despite receiving insufficient wages that do not support a dignified livelihood. He claimed that the low pay of Sh17,000 per month has deterred young male teachers from starting families due to financial concerns.
Mutugi also dismissed claims by the government that they signed a two-year contract, insisting that the agreement was for one year and that they would not agree to any extension. Another JSS teacher, Kinyua Njeru, stated that they would not accept anything less than a conversion of their employment terms into permanent and pensionable status.
