Education

TSC directs striking intern teachers to obey court orders, resume classes

Teachers Service Commission Chairman Jamleck Muturi. (Photo: X/TeachersUpdates)

By Lucy Mumbi | Wednesday, May 15, 2024

The directives come as the Junior Secondary School teachers continue to hold demonstrations vowing not to go back to class until TSC heeds their demands.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has issued a directive to all striking intern teachers, urging them to adhere to court orders and return to their respective schools.

Commission Chairman Jamleck Muturi said the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) ruled in favour of the petitioner but subsequently stayed the judgement until August 1, 2024.

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"The Commission calls upon the teacher interns engaged under the programme to obey the court order and go back to school as teaching and learning in all public schools formally resumed on May 13, 2024," Muturi said on Tuesday.

He noted that the Commission remains committed and responsive to issues affecting the teaching service.

According to Muturi, the teacher internship programme is a national government initiative aimed at providing practical working experience.

The directives come as the Junior Secondary School teachers continue to hold demonstrations vowing not to go back to class until TSC heeds their demands.

Since Monday, teachers from various counties have been taking to the streets demanding better pay and employment on permanent terms.

Nairobi County JSS intern teachers Chairperson Owino Okelo on Monday led the teachers on a protest where they marched from the Nairobi bus terminus to TSC headquarters.

In Nakuru, the demonstrations saw 2,419 teachers from 11 sub-counties joining forces, vowing not to return to school until their demands were met.

Grievances

Their requests include the confirmation of interns and compensation for the internship period.

"There will be constant strikes by JSS teachers in Nairobi and the country at large until we are confirmed into permanent and pensionable terms," Okelo said.

Three weeks ago, the ELRC ruled that the commission had violated their right to fair labour practice by offering them internship positions despite their qualifications and possession of teaching licenses.

Justice Byrum Ongaya's ruling stated that the commission's mandate is limited to hiring only those who are qualified and registered, not student-teachers or interns.

Okelo noted that TSC had appealed the court order but it was deemed unsuccessful.

"We will obey the court order by staying away from schools and all teachers shall be involved in peaceful demos as call and agitation for action from TSC in a bid to comply with the court ruling," Okelo added.