Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers have expressed relief after the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) successfully negotiated a retooling program for them with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The announcement, made by KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori during the union’s communication to President William Ruto, marked the conclusion of a week-long strike that had affected schools across the country.
While the retooling agreement offers a glimmer of hope, intern teachers remain disappointed by the lack of commitment from the TSC regarding their permanent employment. During the strike, KUPPET had called for the confirmation of JSS intern teachers into permanent and pensionable positions—a move that would have secured their job status and provided them with much-needed financial stability.
In her response to the demands, TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia confirmed that while the commission had agreed to retool the intern teachers to enhance their skills and competencies, their permanent confirmation would have to wait until January 2025. This decision has sparked widespread disappointment among the intern teaching community, many of whom had hoped the strike would result in immediate employment guarantees.
What the Retooling Involves
The retooling process, which is expected to begin soon, will involve further training of the intern teachers to ensure they are equipped to handle the challenges of Junior Secondary School curriculum implementation. According to sources within TSC, this program will be instrumental in upskilling the educators in both content delivery and classroom management, a critical aspect as Kenya’s education sector undergoes significant reform.
Misori emphasized the importance of this training for the professional development of the teachers, stating that the retooling would ensure JSS interns are better prepared to meet the demands of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
However, despite this positive step, the decision to delay the teachers’ confirmation until January 2025 has left many intern teachers feeling let down. Social media platforms have been abuzz with intern teachers expressing their frustration over the prolonged uncertainty surrounding their employment status. Many fear that despite the retooling, their future in the teaching profession remains unclear.
Mixed Reactions from Teachers
“While we appreciate the retooling, it’s disheartening that we are still not being offered permanent positions,” said one intern teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We had hoped that the strike would bring us better job security. Waiting until 2025 feels like an eternity when you’re unsure if you’ll still have a job by then.”
Another teacher noted that while retooling is valuable, the real issue at hand is financial stability. “Most of us are struggling to make ends meet. Without a permanent position, we remain in limbo, and our future in this profession feels uncertain.”
A Delicate Balance for the TSC
The TSC, on its part, faces a delicate balancing act. The commission has to navigate between managing limited financial resources and addressing the growing concerns of educators, who are vital to the successful implementation of Kenya’s new education reforms.
Dr. Macharia has reassured the intern teachers that their contributions are valued, urging patience as the government works to create opportunities for permanent employment. However, the delay in securing permanent positions continues to cast a shadow over what was otherwise a positive outcome of the strike.
As Kenya’s education sector continues to evolve, the focus now turns to how effectively the retooling program will be implemented and whether TSC will meet its commitment to confirming these teachers by January 2025.
