The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has rejected the government’s proposal to employ intern teachers permanently through a competitive process.
The union argued that the plan contradicted promises made by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) regarding the employment of intern teachers.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba informed the National Assembly Committee on Education that the 46,000 teachers will be recruited through a competitive examination in accordance with the Constitution and existing laws.
He said that the successful candidates will be confirmed in their positions from January 1, 2025, in accordance with the approved budget allocation schedules. However, this statement caused a negative reaction from Kuppet, who opposed the directive.
The Secretary General of Kuppet, Akelo Misori, emphasized that the intern teachers, who have worked diligently for two years, have a binding contract with the TSC that guarantees their confirmation in permanent terms and retired without the need to use a competitive process of the work
Misori noted that Kuppet rejected Ogamba’s directive requiring these teachers to reapply for their jobs. The TSC had previously committed to employing apprentices on a permanent basis, a move seen as crucial to tackling staff shortages, particularly in primary schools.
Kuppet president Omboko Milemba warned of possible unrest among teachers if the government did not honor the promise. He added that the interior was essential for the preservation of the country’s education system and criticized CS Education for causing unnecessary tension.
Milemba expressed his displeasure at Ogamba’s comments, calling them unreasonable and against the wishes of the teachers. He asked if the minister wanted to encourage teachers to boycott work and return to the streets.
The president noted that interns played a vital role in the success of primary schools and argued that undermining their contributions would harm the progress of the sector.
Milemba also said that parliamentary resolutions and a presidential decree have already stipulated the hiring of intern teachers on a permanent and pensionable basis. Both the Budget and Appropriations Committee of the National Assembly and President William Ruto had made commitments on the issue, which was key to resolving a recent teachers’ strike. Kuppet warned that failure to fulfill these promises could lead to another labor boycott.
The union called on the government to address the teachers’ grievances, warning of possible industrial action.
Milemba reminded the government that the CS of Education is not the employer of teachers and should focus on solving other pressing problems such as non-disbursement and non-disbursement of funds to schools instead of interfere in matters that are under the jurisdiction of TSC. .
At the same time, CS faced new criticism from university professors. Recently, the University’s Academic Staff Union dismissed Ogamba’s claims that consensus had been reached on salary negotiations, signaling wider dissatisfaction with the management of the education sector’s problems.
