TSC Internship News: Clash with Kuppet, Conflicting Statements, and the Path to Permanent Employment

In the dynamic landscape of education in Kenya, recent developments regarding intern teachers have sparked a clash between the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

The situation has left 46,000 teachers in uncertainty, as conflicting statements raise concerns about their future employment status.

1. Clash of Statements: Kuppet vs. TSC

Kuppet, the union representing post-primary education teachers, challenges TSC’s recent announcement that intern teachers will have to wait another year before being considered for permanent and pensionable positions.
TSC Director of Teachers Staffing, Antonina Lentoijoni, stated that interns starting on February 1 would receive contract extensions, sparking disagreement with Kuppet’s stance.

2. Kuppet’s Standpoint: Immediate Permanent Employment

Kuppet Secretary General, Akelo Misori, emphasizes that intern teachers’ contracts initially stipulated a one-year term, urging TSC to honor their commitment.
Misori argues that these dedicated teachers, enduring challenges like the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) transition, deserve immediate confirmation to stabilize institutions.

3. Tough Conditions for Intern Teachers

Despite their vital role, intern teachers face demoralizing conditions with meager salaries, taxation, and statutory deductions similar to permanent teachers.
Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, placed under primary school heads, often bear additional expenses for teaching aids due to insufficient provisions by primary schools.

4. TSC’s U-Turn: Confusion Prevails

Reports suggest a potential U-turn by TSC, planning to confirm all intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms this year, contrary to the initial statement by TSC Director Antonina Lentoijoni.
If realized, this move would mark the largest influx of intern teachers onto the permanent payroll.

5. Macharia’s Announcement and Senate Involvement

TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia’s announcement that 20,000 teachers hired in February would have to wait until January 2025 for permanent positions caused anxiety among instructors.
Senate involvement highlights debates on hiring teachers on a contract basis to address a shortage, with Macharia emphasizing a legal limit of two years for contract terms.

6. Budgetary Constraints and Senatorial Insights

Macharia emphasizes budgetary constraints preventing the commission from hiring more teachers, stating a need for a Sh4.8 billion annual budget for recruitment.
Senators express the need for changes to the Employment Act to facilitate contractual hiring, advocating for a Cabinet presentation for approval.

7. The Future of Intern Teachers: Paving the Way Forward

The ongoing debate leaves intern teachers in a state of uncertainty about their future employment status.
As stakeholders continue discussions, the education sector anticipates clarity on whether intern teachers will transition to permanent and pensionable terms sooner than initially suggested.

In a complex narrative of conflicting statements, union demands, and budgetary challenges, the fate of intern teachers hangs in the balance.

The education community eagerly awaits a resolution that ensures stability for these dedicated educators.