TSC Director Says JSS Teachers’ Sackings Are Being Managed from Nairobi HQ
Kisii Teachers service Commission (TSC) Director Ann Wachira says that the JSS issues are being managed directly from the headquarters in Nairobi.
TSC terminated the contracts of 742 JSS intern teachers due to professional misconduct.
Letters sent to the affected teachers indicated that they failed to provide satisfactory responses to show cause letters sent the previous month, with some choosing not to respond at all.
These dismissals followed a nationwide strike that began on April 17, which teachers called off just two days before the dismissals to allow for the passage of the National Budget.
KUPPET has condemned the mass sacking, threatening legal action against TSC, arguing that proper procedures were not followed.
On Wednesday, KUPPET Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima expressed strong disapproval of the layoffs, criticizing the procedure followed by TSC.
Nthurima reported that the dismissals did not adhere to proper protocol, noting that justice mandates a fair hearing before termination. He lamented that the teachers were not given an opportunity to present their case to the board.
Nthurima emphasized that TSC had assured the intern teachers that their contracts would not be terminated after the strike. In May, TSC issued show cause notices to 7,357 teachers concerning the internship issue.
Although the termination letters were dated June 6, 2024, they were only sent out to head teachers on June 10.
Nthurima added that an agreement had been reached to avoid punitive measures against teachers who resumed work post-strike.
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The agreement included withdrawing the show cause letters and establishing a framework to address the concerns of JSS teachers.
Nthurima criticized the timing of the dismissals, highlighting that the bill to employ the teachers on permanent and pensionable terms is still under consideration.
He expressed concern that the dismissals would complicate the ongoing efforts to secure permanent positions for the teachers.
TSC Director Says JSS Teachers’ Sackings Are Being Managed from Nairobi HQ
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