TSC sacks 742 JSS intern teachers for professional misconduct

Barely two days after suspending their countrywide demonstrations, the axe has fallen on a section of Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers who were slapped with letters of interdiction on Monday.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has terminated the contracts of 742 JSS intern teachers on grounds of professional misconduct.

In letters sent to the affected teachers, TSC indicated that the intern teachers failed to either provide a satisfactory response with some reportedly choosing to not respond to show cause letters sent last month.

in letters dated June 6th, TSC made reference to the outcome of show cause letters that were issued on May 13th, to which it noted that “the commission has noted you failed and/or ignored to provide any reason for your absence from duty and in view of the above the commission has terminated your internship effective 6th June 2024.”

Other letters read; “The commission has considered your response and found the same to be unsatisfactory and in view of the above the commission has terminated your internship engagement effective 6th June 2024.”

The letters further explained that the move to participate in the strike amounted to professional misconduct by deserting duty from May 13 to June 6 while engaged as an intern teacher.

The move attracted fire from Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, who accused the teachers’ employer of victimization, vowing legal action against the commission.

“We  want TSC to be warned they will be taken to curt and they will be fined why they are breaking the law…the other day they were busy issuing show cause letters yet they were on a protected strike,” said the Senator.

According to TSC, only 9,606 out of 10,348 JSS intern teachers had responded to the show cause letters issued on May 13.

The commission further indicated that it only terminated and replaced the contracts of 742 JSS intern teachers who did not report to work and as such could not account for their whereabouts.