Teachers Push On With Strike Despite TSC ‘Show Cause’ Letters
Striking Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers have vowed that they will not back down on their demands despite TSC threat to sack them.
The teachers, who held demonstrations in Homa Bay town on Friday, said they will continue with their strike until their demands are fully met.
Led by their Chairman Lazarus Buore and Secretary Harrizone Otieno, the teachers emphasized that they will not return to class unless the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) grants them permanent and pensionable terms.
Buore noted that the TSC had disobeyed a court order which nullified their employment on contract terms, urging the commission to comply with the court’s decision.
He stressed that the court had barred TSC from employing teachers on contract but the commission disobeyed.
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Otieno reiterated their position, stating that they will not call off the strike until the government employs them on permanent and pensionable terms.
He declared that they would never go back to school until the government provides new employment letters for permanent and pensionable terms.
Velinda Rakara, a JSS teacher, highlighted the financial struggles they face, pointing out that they could not cope with the high cost of living on the paltry Sh17,000 they were paid per month.
She expressed that the government was exploiting them for the services they render, adding that their pay was not commensurate with the services they provide.
Rakara asserted that nobody should threaten them regarding their strike.
The teachers also called on legislators to intervene and support their cause for permanent employment.
They said they were dismayed by the threats of disciplinary action issued by the TSC and emphasized their determination to continue the strike until their demands are met.
Sacking Threats
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has issued ‘show cause’ letters to 7,357 contract teachers who have been on strike since schools reopened last week.
The teachers now risk losing their jobs unless they provide satisfactory explanations within two weeks.
The TSC’s decision follows a meeting at its headquarters and the receipt of absenteeism data from county offices, highlighting the significant impact of the strike on school operations.
These teachers are part of the 46,000 educators recruited in February and September of last year, specifically deployed to junior schools.
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According to the TSC’s letters, these teachers violated the TSC Act Schedule Clause (b) by engaging in professional misconduct through absenteeism.
Consequently, the commission is considering terminating their contracts and has urged the teachers to justify why they should not end their internships.
Copies of these letters have also been received by regional and county directors of education.
Teachers Push On With Strike Despite TSC ‘Show Cause’ Letters
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