The Ministry of Education announced its intent to review the cases of sacked Junior Secondary School (JSS) tutors. Speaking in Nakuru, the Principal Secretary (PS) described the issue as a labor matter, emphasizing that it would be addressed by the Labour Ministry and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the employers of the teachers in question.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has taken significant steps in support of the dismissed educators. The union has already lodged a petition with the TSC, urging the immediate reinstatement of the affected teachers. KUPPET has also issued a formal communication to the TSC, setting a 14-day deadline for the reinstatement of the tutors, failing which the union has threatened to pursue alternative measures, including legal action.
Moses Nthurima, KUPPET’s Deputy Secretary-General, reiterated the union’s commitment to the teachers’ cause, despite the fact that they are not union members. Nthurima emphasized that KUPPET would not hesitate to go to court on behalf of the teachers, acting in the public interest.
The TSC had earlier issued ‘show cause’ letters to a total of 10,348 JSS teachers, demanding that they respond within 14 days and resume their duties. Out of these, 9,606 teachers complied and reported back to work. However, 742 teachers did not meet the requirements, leading to the cancellation of their contracts.
Currently, there are 46,000 teachers employed on contract in the JSS sector. The leadership of JSS had previously called off a strike after the government assured that the teachers would be transitioned to permanent employment terms. The strike had commenced last month as schools reopened for the second term, highlighting the teachers’ demands for better job security and conditions.
The Ministry of Education’s decision to seek a review of the sacked tutors’ cases signals a potential resolution to the ongoing labor dispute. As the 14-day ultimatum from KUPPET approaches, the education sector keenly awaits the outcome of the deliberations between the Labour Ministry, the TSC, and the education stakeholders involved.
