KUPPET Threatens Legal Action Over TSC’s Mass Sacking and Replacement of JSS Teachers
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has strongly criticized the recent termination of 742 Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The dismissals, attributed to gross misconduct, occurred merely two days after the teachers had ended a nationwide strike that began on April 17 to facilitate the passage of the National Budget on Thursday.
Strike and Negotiations
The intern teachers initially went on strike to protest TSC’s hesitation to employ them on permanent and pensionable terms.
However, they suspended their strike after successful negotiations with the National Assembly’s Labour and Education committees, which resulted in the approval of some of their demands.
These demands were subsequently presented to the budget committee.
Improper Procedure and Broken Promises
In a Wednesday statement, KUPPET Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima expressed distress over the layoffs, highlighting that the dismissals did not adhere to proper procedures.
He emphasized that the principles of justice require individuals to be heard before being terminated, but these teachers were not given the opportunity to present their case to the board.
Nthurima stated that the TSC’s actions have unjustly condemned young teachers to joblessness and criticized the commission for not following the right procedure.
Nthurima further noted that TSC had previously assured that intern teachers’ contracts would not be terminated following discussions to end the strike.
Despite this assurance, TSC issued show-cause notices to 7,357 teachers in May concerning the internship dispute.
While the termination letters were dated June 6, 2024, they were dispatched to head teachers on June 10.
Legal Actions and Future Implications
Nthurima elaborated that an agreement had been reached stipulating that teachers who resumed work after the strike would not face punishment, the commission would retract the show-cause letters, and a framework would be established to stabilize the situation for JSS teachers.
He questioned how the commission could proceed with firing the teachers when efforts to secure their permanent and pensionable employment were ongoing.
Nthurima also warned that KUPPET would not passively observe the implementation of these dismissals and hinted at potential legal action.
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He emphasized that the union had invested significant effort in lobbying the TSC and the National Assembly and would not allow the unjust sacking of teachers to proceed.
KUPPET is urging TSC to reconsider its decision and ensure that all intern teachers are employed on permanent and pensionable terms.
The union is contemplating court action, deeming the dismissals both unfair and unlawful.
KUPPET Threatens Legal Action Over TSC’s Mass Sacking and Replacement of JSS Teachers
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