The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced that Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers who were recently terminated have the right to appeal. Calvin Anyuor, TSC Director of Legal, Labour and Industrial Relations, revealed this in an interview with Education News.
This announcement comes as a huge relief to the 742 JSS intern teachers who lost their contracts following the events of June 10. The teachers were terminated on the grounds of deserting duty to participate in an illegal strike that lasted nearly a month. The strike was aimed at demanding confirmation of their terms into Permanent and Pensionable (PnP) status.
The termination letters, dated June 6, 2024, stated, “The Commission has decided to terminate your internship engagement with effect from June 6, 2024, because you engaged in acts of professional misconduct in that you deserted duty with effect from May 13, 2024, to date while engaged as an intern teacher.” This action followed a period during which a total of 10,348 teachers were reported absent from work starting May 13. Out of these, 9,606 teachers responded to the show-cause letters issued by the TSC within the stipulated two-week period.
Kericho County witnessed the highest number of terminations, with 154 intern teachers losing their positions. The commission’s decision to allow appeals is seen as a step towards ensuring fairness and addressing the grievances of the affected teachers.
Anyuor emphasized that the commission is open to reviewing the cases of the terminated intern teachers. “The affected teachers have a right to appeal, and the commission is willing to consider these appeals on a case-by-case basis,” he said. This move is expected to provide a structured platform for the teachers to present their cases and seek redress.
The strike, which led to the mass terminations, was a response to the teachers’ demand for better job security through confirmation into permanent positions. The action, deemed illegal by the TSC, highlighted the growing frustration among intern teachers over their employment terms. The right to appeal now offers a glimmer of hope for those who believe their termination was unjust or that their circumstances were not adequately considered.
As the appeals process unfolds, the education sector will be closely watching the outcomes, hoping for a resolution that balances the needs and rights of the teachers with the standards and expectations of the TSC. This development underscores the ongoing challenges within the education system, particularly concerning employment terms and conditions for intern teachers.
For the 742 affected intern teachers, the ability to appeal provides an opportunity to potentially reclaim their positions and continue their contribution to the education of Kenya’s junior secondary school students. The education community, stakeholders, and the public await the decisions that will emerge from this appeal process, hoping for a fair and just resolution.
