Embu: 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.
According to Kenya News Agency, Karura stated that the intern teachers had demonstrated dedication and professionalism in supporting the smooth rollout of grades 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, the officials emphasized that their labor terms should be prioritized before their contracts end on December 31st.
Karura expressed that it would be exploitative and against labor laws should the government continue engaging them on a contractual basis. He urged the government to quickly confirm them as permanent employees before recruiting the planned next cohorts slated for January next year.
Another KUPPET official, Miriam Wawira, pointed out that the teachers were demoralized due to their meager pay of between Sh. 15,000 and 20,000, which was not commensurate with their training and workload. She stated that the government could show appreciation for their contribution to the success of the CBE rollout by ensuring they were absorbed into permanent positions.
The officials threatened to move to court if the government failed to respond to their appeal and continued engaging them on contractual terms. Meanwhile, Manyatta Member of Parliament (MP), Gitonga Mukunji, has written to the National Assembly, requesting a statement on the matter. In his statement, the MP asked for a response from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education regarding the conversion of intern teachers into permanent employment. He argued that their future remains uncertain, given their contracts are about to lapse with no word from the government on the way forward.