Ruto promises the confirmation of 46,000 JSS intern teachers in two months.
Kisumu: Intern teachers have been reassured by President William Ruto that their Kenya Kwanza administration will confirm their appointments to permanent and pensionable positions.
Ruto gave an explanation of the government’s choice to hire teachers as interns rather than giving them permanent jobs on Thursday, August 29, during a town hall meeting in Kisumu.
The president promised to verify the employment of the 46,000 intern teachers now employed within the next two months, while also admitting the difficulty posed by the nation’s teacher deficit.
In addition to having a large pool of qualified instructors on hand, we also face a severe teacher shortage in schools. Had I chosen to employ instructors on a permanent and pensionable basis, my hiring capacity would have been limited to 12,000 or 13,000 people.
Rather, I decided to hire this sizable pool of unemployed instructors as interns, promising them permanent and pensionable posts after two years of internship, which they will now be verified in the upcoming two months, Ruto clarified.
The president also advised educators to think twice before going on strike, saying that the government has given them the tools they need to get what they want.
Ruto gave teachers the assurance that the funds have been allotted to fulfill the conditions specified in the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and teachers’ 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Certain unions want to provoke educators to embark on a walkout on an issue that has already been resolved. Funds have been set up for the CBA that the TSC and teachers negotiated.
All teachers will receive their salary and arrears paid in compliance with the signed CBA by today or tomorrow. The president declared, “There is not a single reason why anyone should advise teachers to go on strike.
Why declined to work with KUPPET on behalf of the Teachers Service Commission?
In the meantime, unless the union complies with a recent Labour Court ruling suspending the strike, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has declined to interact with KUPPET.
In order to settle teacher concerns, KUPPET asked to meet with TSC, expressing a preference for a cooperative solution than drawn-out legal battles.
TSC declared that it has paid arrears and completed the 2021–2025 CBA, but before talks can resume, KUPPET must abide by court rulings.
The commission declared that it had addressed every issue brought up by KUPPET and that, should the union decide to end its industrial action, it is ready to continue talks.
Ruto promises the confirmation of 46,000 JSS intern teachers in two months.
