Students in grades 7 and 8 continue to idle in class as intern teachers still hold their ground.
Junior secondary school (JSS) learners in public schools remain idle in classes, with no one coming to teach them. The JSS teachers’ strike has been going on over the past week and is continuing into its second week now. The paralyzed learning, which has affected over 2.5 million learners in grades 7 and 8, seems not to end soon as JSS teachers are not bowing.
One of the demands that the teachers want the government to address is the staff shortage, which has been an issue since the beginning of the JSS program. The intern teachers are also demanding permanent and pensionable employment terms.
In addition, intern teachers in different parts of the country demand full payment for the periods they’ve worked without pay.
Since the rollout of the JSS program, up to 46,000 teachers have been deployed across the country. Many of these teachers are contracted by JSS and are expected to teach grades 7, 8, and 9. The program is now in its second year, which means grade 9 is expected to roll out next year.
KUPPET joins JSS teachers for protests on the streets
The strike by the JSS teachers is strongly backed by The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet). Kuppet is urging the government to set aside funds to pay intern teachers. According to the union, KShs 17,000 paid to the intern teachers is insufficient, and many are depressed due to the poor pay.
KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori wrote a letter addressed to Parliament, the Teachers Service Commission, and the National Treasury on Tuesday. The union is seeking intervention from these bodies to ensure learning and teaching resumes.
The letter addressed to the TSC urges the employer to set aside a meeting with the union to discuss the strike issue and find a solution.
In a separate letter addressed to the Principal Secretary of the National Treasury, the union wants the treasury to initiate the process of setting aside funds for the permanent and pensionable employment of teachers.
KUPPET’s letter also urges parliament to use the ongoing budget-making process to appropriate funds for the confirmation of all 46,000 teachers, not just 26,000.
The striking teachers are confident that their issues are valid, as they’re backed by the Labour Relations Court’s ruling that nullified internship programs for trained, registered, and licensed teachers. While the government has yet to address these teachers’ concerns, all affected parties are only hoping that they come to an agreement soon for the sake of the affected learners in public schools.
