Junior secondary school teachers in Makueni and Nakuru County took to the streets in demonstrations on Monday, May 13, 2024, to demand better pay and employment on permanent terms.
In Nakuru, 2,419 teachers from 11 sub-counties participated in the demonstrations, united in their resolve not to return to school until their demands were addressed. They are calling for the confirmation of interns and compensation for the internship period.
These teachers are insisting that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) must comply with a recent court ruling that declared intern teacher positions illegal. The Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) ruled three weeks ago that the commission had violated their right to fair labor practices by offering them internship positions, despite their qualifications and possession of teaching licenses.
Justice Byrum Ongaya’s ruling highlighted that the commission’s mandate is to hire only qualified and registered individuals, not student-teachers or interns. As a result, the teachers are demanding permanent and pensionable employment terms.
During a gathering in Wote, Makueni County, spokesperson Erastus Mawewu voiced their frustration at receiving a meager salary of Ksh17,000 despite their qualifications.
“We are frustrated because the agreement was for a one-year contract, non-renewable. We filed a case in court and were assured that internship contracts were illegal,” Mawewu stated.
“As patriotic teachers, we have dedicated ourselves to our profession, teaching under the new curriculum, often covering material we were never taught during our university education. Despite our qualifications – four years of university study – we are being paid a mere 17,000 shillings,” he added.
“We have sacrificed our time and efforts for the betterment of our students. Yet, we feel sidelined by the very government we voted into power. Our stance is clear: we will not report back to work until we are recognized and treated fairly,” he concluded.
This protest occurs as schools are reopening for the second term following a prolonged break due to devastating floods across the country.
