TSC Permanent Jobs for 20,000 Intern Teachers Starting in July
At least 20,000 intern teachers will secure permanent positions starting in July.
This decision was announced during a meeting of the ruling coalition, Kenya Kwanza, at State House, where it was revealed that funds have been allocated to absorb the teachers next month.
These teachers will play a crucial role in junior secondary schools as the pioneer class enters Grade 9 in January next year.
The Kenya Kwanza parliamentary group was also informed that Sh18 billion has been set aside to employ all junior secondary teachers on an internship basis.
This financial allocation follows a prolonged standoff between the intern teachers and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) regarding their employment status, which included a strike, layoffs, and a pending court case.
TSC’s Financial Challenges and Employment Strategy
In May, while appearing before Parliament, TSC indicated that Sh30 billion was needed to convert all intern contracts to permanent and pensionable terms.
However, due to budget constraints, TSC planned to employ the teachers in two batches: the first batch of 26,000 teachers and the second batch of 20,000 teachers.
For the initial batch, TSC projected that Sh6.6 billion would be required to convert intern posts to permanent employment.
With Sh18 billion now available, the first cohort of 26,000 interns can be successfully hired on permanent terms, leaving the fate of the remaining 20,000 interns uncertain due to a lack of funds in the 2024/2025 budget.
Labour Disputes and Court Rulings
The employment of teachers on an internship basis has been contentious, leading to strikes, layoffs, and a court case between the interns and TSC.
The interns argued that they faced unfair labour practices, performing the same workload as their permanently employed peers but receiving significantly lower pay.
In April, the Employment and Labour Relations Court sided with the interns, suspending the employment of tutors on an intern basis due to unfair labour practices.
However, TSC contested this decision at the Court of Appeal and recently obtained a reprieve.
The court’s three judges ruled that the hiring of teachers in internship positions should be halted until the appeal is heard and determined.
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This development means that TSC has the upper hand for now, and the aggrieved teachers will continue working as interns until the case filed by the commission, led by Dr. Nancy Macharia, is resolved.
In its application, TSC claimed that the orders by Justice Bryum Ongaya had disrupted its operations, as the funds needed to hire the intern teachers on permanent and pensionable terms were not budgeted for.
Consequently, the commission will proceed with its current employment strategy until further judicial decisions are made.
Summary
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Permanent Jobs | 20,000 intern teachers to secure permanent positions starting in July |
| Parliamentary Support | Sh18 billion allocated for junior secondary teacher employment |
| TSC’s Financial Plan | Sh30 billion needed, with Sh18 billion for first 26,000 teachers |
| Labour Disputes | Court rulings and appeals regarding intern teachers’ employment status |
| Current Status | Interns to continue working under current terms until appeal is resolved |
This plan aims to address the employment crisis while managing budget constraints and ongoing legal challenges.
TSC Permanent Jobs for 20,000 Intern Teachers Starting in July
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