KUPPET slams TSC for sacking 742 JSS intern teachers, threatens legal action

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has condemned the Monday sacking of 742 Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

The dismissals made on grounds of gross misconduct came just two days after the teachers called off a nationwide strike, which initially commenced on April 17, to allow passage of the National Budget on Thursday.

The intern teachers had downed their tools due to concerns such as TSC's reluctance to hire them under permanent and pensionable terms.

They subsequently suspended the strike following successful negotiations with the National Assembly’s Labour and Education committees which approved some of the teachers' demands consequently presented to the budget committee.

In a statement on Wednesday, however, KUPPET Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima decried the layoffs noting that they did not follow proper procedure.

"We have received very distressing news of dismissal of JSS teachers. The rule of justice allows people to be heard first before being fired but these teachers were not invited to the board,” he said.

“TSC has condemned young teachers to joblessness. We want to condemn this unfortunate incident because TSC didn't follow the right procedure."

Mr. Nthurima likewise pointed out that TSC had promised not to terminate the intern teachers' contracts following deliberations to end the aforesaid strike.

The commission in May sent out show cause notices to 7,357 teachers regarding the contentious internship  debacle. Although the termination letters were dated June 6, 2024, they were sent out to head teachers on June 10.

"We agreed that teachers who resumed work after the strike should not be punished, that the commission would withdraw the show cause letters and we had agreed on a framework to bring sanity to JSS teachers," added Mr. Nthurima.

"The dismissal will complicate efforts. How can they fire them when the passing of the bill to employ them on permanent and pensionable is ongoing?"

Mr. Nthurima additionally warned that KUPPET will not stand idly by while the dismissals are being implemented, threatening legal action.

"KUPPET has spent months lobbying TSC and the National Assembly and we shall not sit back and watch TSC sacking teachers. We are asking them to consider their decision, all teachers should be absorbed on permanent and pensionable," said the KUPPET DG.

"The Union is considering going to court because this is unfair and unlawful."