The prospect of permanent employment for the 46,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teacher interns now faces uncertainty due to a proposed budget cut of Sh18.9 billion allocated to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u.
This reduction aims to address the country’s budget deficit of Sh200 billion following the removal of some tax proposals in the Finance Bill, 2024 by Kenya Kwanza MPs. Ndung’u suggests deferring the planned confirmation of the interns under permanent and pensionable terms and the hiring of new JSS teachers.
This decision deals a significant blow to the TSC and teachers who have awaited confirmation after months of contention, including strikes, layoffs, and court battles.
Despite the government allocating Sh13.4 billion for this purpose, TSC originally estimated needing Sh16.6 billion, resulting in a funding gap. The National Assembly Education Committee was set to discuss this matter with TSC on Wednesday.
Last week, the Court of Appeal suspended orders by the Employment and Labour Relations Court requiring TSC to convert the interns to permanent and pensionable terms, putting their employment plans on hold. TSC filed an application stating that these orders disrupted their plans as the necessary funding was not budgeted for.
“The rights of all learners in public schools underpinned under Articles 43 and 53 of the Constitution are on the verge of being violated as the Commission has no financial resources to on-board the 46,000 on permanent and pensionable terms and conditions,” argued TSC lawyer Allan Sitima.
The new measures announced by the CS are contained in a letter to the clerk of the National Assembly dated June 19.
It also affects the three arms of government including ministries, departments and agencies.
