The National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairperson Ndindi Nyoro has revealed that the government will employ Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
Speaking on Citizen TV, Nyoro said the government has set aside Ksh.300 billion in the 2024/2025 Financial Budget for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to employ JSS intern teachers who are currently on strike.
Nyoro defended the Ksh19.429 billion deduction to Basic Education in the next financial year adding that TSC is the highest funded institution in Kenya.
“There are also some other elements I want to highlight. Even if you are talking about decreases, it is important for us to talk about absolutes,” he said.
“TSC is the number one highest funded institution in Kenya with over Ksh.300 billion. We want to confirm JSS teachers, and I want to reassure them that we are going to provide money for the confirmation of permanent and pensionable terms to intern JSS teachers,” Ndindi Nyoro said.
IBP Manager Dismisses Ndindi Nyoro
However, International Budget Partnership (IBP) Country Manager Dr Abraham Rugo dismissed Nyoro’s sentiments.
Rugo who was part of the debate stated that only 55 per cent of the interns would be absorbed.
“According to the budget document proposal, only 55 per cent are scheduled to be absorbed, 45% are going to remain as interns,” said Dr Rugo.
Also Read: Govt Moves to Avert JSS Crisis Ahead of Grade 9 Transition
TSC & JSS Teachers Row
JSS intern teachers vowed to hold protests across the country until the TSC employs them under permanent and pensionable terms.
TSC had previously directed the JSS teachers to obey court orders and go back to school.
In a statement on May 14, the Commission explained that the internship programme is a national government initiative aimed at providing practical working experience.
“The attention of the TSC is drawn to media reports on demonstrations by teacher interns. 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 13th May 2024,” said Muturi.
Also Read: TSC Issues Directive to Striking Teachers Ahead of Court Verdict
According to the TSC, the Court ruled in favor of the petitioner but has stayed the judgement until August 1, 2024.
The Forum for Good Governance and Human Rights filed a petition challenging the teacher internship program.
On April 17, Justice Bryrum Ongaya of the Employment and Labour Relations Court declared that TSC’s internship program is illegal.
The intern teachers are currently employed on contract annually.
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