TSC’s latest move is to confirm 25,000 junior secondary teachers.
In a major step to address long-standing employment problems, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is scheduled to confirm the first group of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers to permanent and pensionable employment.
This wave of confirmation, according to those close will concentrate on 25,000 intern teachers in total, who have played a crucial role in filling staffing shortages throughout Kenya’s school system.
Twenty,500 JSS Senior Interns, 4,000 Primary Senior Interns, and 450 Senior School Interns will be included in the initial round of confirmed positions.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), which recently organized a strike in support of improved conditions for intern teachers, made these demands, and TSC is responding to them in part with this decision.
TSC Strike Pressures KUPPET
Following a week-long strike by KUPPET, which demanded the prompt confirmation of 46,000 intern teachers into permanent and pensionable positions, the confirmation has taken place.
Although using intern instructors can assist fill the teacher shortfall, KUPPET has long maintained that this approach is unsustainable in the long run and unjust to those who want benefits and job security.
In addition, KUPPET demanded in its strike manifesto that an extra 20,000 teachers be hired to cover the widening deficiencies in the education sector, which have been especially noticeable since the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The organization claims that a shortage of teachers has made it difficult for schools all around Kenya to meet the CBC’s requests.
The confirmation of 25,000 teachers by TSC is a positive beginning toward resolving some of these issues. It does not, however, satisfy KUPPET’s demands for the verification of each of the 46,000 intern instructors.
Effects on the Education Sector Over Time
The most recent event is probably going to have a long-term effect on Kenya’s educational system. Given that 25,000 instructors will soon be confirmed for permanent positions, some stability is anticipated in the educational system, particularly in junior secondary schools.
In addition to giving these educators job security, the confirmation of these educators guarantees pupils a more stable learning environment.
It is unclear, though, if the union will completely end its strike given that KUPPET is demanding the hiring of an extra 20,000 instructors and the confirmation of all 46,000 interns. Now, it is up to TSC to continue the negotiations and take care of the outstanding issues.
Many interns who have been waiting for permanent employment in the teaching profession now have hope as the confirmation of these 25,000 teachers is considered as a positive step in the right direction.
It is unclear how this action will affect the dynamics between TSC and KUPPET in the future, but it is certain that discussions about teacher employment in Kenya will continue.
For the time being, this assurance gives interns looking for job security a ray of hope, and it may also signal the start of more extensive changes in Kenya’s school system.
TSC’s latest move is to confirm 25,000 junior secondary teachers.
