Three Members of Parliament have backed demands by intern teachers for the government to absorb them on permanent terms.
Led by Narok Woman Representative who is also Chair of the National Assembly Education Committee Rebecca Tonkei, Marakwet West Member of Parliament Timothy Toroitich, and Kiharu MP, Ndindi Nyoro want Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers employed on permanent basis by TSC.
Speaking in Narok Town, Tonkei said that the government did not err by enlisting teachers on internship programs for between one and two years adding that it is high time the government converted the same interns to permanent employees.
“There is nothing wrong for our teachers to be in an internship program like other interns in public service,” said Tonkei.
Tonkei said intern teachers’ current pay is low, and the government needs to absorb them on permanent terms so their pay can rise so that they can meet their basic needs.
Nyoro pointed out that the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) is the only government agency that receives the highest budgetary allocation in government.
“Therefore, TSC should confirm those intern teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, especially the JSS,” Nyoro said.
Nyoro also urged TSC to employ another 20,000 teachers in the next financial year 2024-2025.
Marakwet West MP Toroitich chided individuals who moved to Court to void the employment of intern teachers which the Court upheld.
“We as the Committee of Education, we cannot agree with that decision, but we respect the court decision” added Toroitich.
He said they advised the TSC to appeal the decision so that the JSS teachers can be employed permanently.
Toroitich also asked the Budget and Appropriations Committee to look for more budgetary allocations in the coming financial year 2024-2025, so that the intern teachers can be confirmed on permanent terms and also to facilitate employment of more teachers.
By John Kaleke
