Why TSC Intern Teachers will Wait Longer for PnP Employment: Nearly 60,000 TSC teachers found their professional status under scrutiny when the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) deemed their contracts invalid. However, amidst this legal turbulence, a recent court ruling delivered a pivotal directive. Their employment conditions would remain unchanged until further legal actions transpire.
Court granted TSC some grace period
Justice Byrum Ongaya, presiding over the case, granted the TSC a three-month grace period. The commission will use this time to seek recourse in higher courts. After that, maybe they will rectify the situation by offering permanent and pensionable positions to the affected intern teachers.
Yet, amid the legal jousting, ambiguity shrouded the term “status quo.” The Kenya Junior School Teachers Association (KeJUSTA) sought further clarification. The union leaders urged teachers to withhold premature judgments regarding the ruling’s implications. Secretary General Daniel Murithi underscored the importance of cautious interpretation, mindful of potential misconceptions.
TSC pleaded with the court
Despite TSC’s plea to suspend the decision, citing concerns over impending hiring plans, Justice Ongaya maintained the current employment landscape until August 1, 2024. His rationale was grounded in preserving justice’s essence, pending potential reconciliations or further legal maneuvers.
Central to the court’s decision was the assertion of fair labor practices. Justice Ongaya admonished TSC for engaging qualified teachers on discriminatory internship terms. This decree aimed to rectify the imbalance between the demand for quality education and the rights of teachers. It is unacceptable, especially amidst the implementation of the competency-based curriculum (CBC).
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The genesis of the saga
The genesis of this legal saga stemmed from TSC’s initiative to alleviate the shortage of teachers. There is a serious shortage of teachers in junior secondary schools.
Initially, the plan entailed a one-year internship period preceding permanent employment. However, President William Ruto’s mandate extended this period, complicating the interns’ professional trajectory.
The court scrutinized TSC’s handling of interns, noting discrepancies between promised roles and actual responsibilities. Concerns over stipend deductions and housing charges further exacerbated the interns’ plight. This exposed systemic flaws within the hiring process.
The Forum for Good Governance and Human Rights
The Forum for Good Governance and Human Rights served as the interns’ voice. It highlighted the inherent risks posed by TSC’s lax oversight. Allegations of using students as experimental subjects to validate the CBC’s efficacy underscored the gravity of the situation. This revealed a systemic disregard for the intern teachers’ rights and students’ well-being.
Oroso Oganga’s affidavit provided a poignant narrative, emblematic of the interns’ collective struggle. Despite possessing a Bachelor of Education degree, Oroso found himself thrust into unfamiliar subjects. The amount of work he does is not proportional to the monthly stipend he takes home.
In essence, the legal imbroglio surrounding the status of intern teachers illuminates broader systemic challenges within Kenya’s education landscape. Beyond legal intricacies, it underscores the imperative of safeguarding teachers’ rights. This will ensure equitable employment practices and prioritize students’ educational experiences. As legal battles persist, the fate of nearly 60,000 teachers hangs in the balance.
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