Intern teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and working on contracts now demand equal salary with permanently employed teachers eligible for pensions.
The teachers voiced their demand following a court decision that found the commission in violation of the law for hiring teachers who had already completed their degrees as interns.
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In Nairobi, a spokesman for the organization, Boniface Omari, announced to the media that the nation’s more than 50,000 intern teachers will return to court to seek payment for their work. The lawsuit is being pursued by the Forum for Good Governance and Human Rights on behalf of the educators.
TSC reportedly plans to appeal the decision made by Judge Byram Ongaya of the Employment and Labour Relations Court. Allan Sitima, the lawyer for TSC, wrote to the court’s deputy registrar requesting certified copies of the proceedings and judgment to facilitate lodging an appeal at the Court of Appeal.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Nancy Macharia ; Image/File
Primary school intern teachers receive Sh15,000 per month, while secondary school interns receive Sh20,000, referred to as a “stipend” by the commission. However, after deductions, including the recently imposed Housing Levy, they receive less money.
“We have been working as full-time educators, attending all mandatory classes. Like our counterparts with stable jobs and pensions, we should receive full pay. We receive Sh17,000, while they receive over Sh60,000. It’s unjust.” Mr. Omari remarked.
According to Mr. Omari, primary school interns have been earning Sh13,000 for the past fifteen months. They also seek payment for the time worked under contract with TSC without receiving a paycheck.
Ignoring the teachers’ expectations may disrupt instruction in junior secondary schools (JSS), heavily reliant on interns.
“The court has ruled that every contract that more than 50,000 teachers have signed is unlawful and void. In order to abide by the court’s decision that instructors with comparable qualifications had to be paid equally, the government ought to take the TSC to task” Mr. Omari suggested
Besides, the court barred TSC from working with interns in the future, stating it falls outside their purview.
Justice Ongaya highlighted the commission’s duty limited to hiring qualified and government-registered teachers.
Mr. Omari urged TSC to meet with the teachers and decide on complying with the court judgment. He also requested the government to remind TSC of funds allocated for their prompt confirmation, as communicated by MP Ndindi Nyoro, Chair of the Parliamentary Budget Committee.
TSC extended the teachers’ contracts for another year, with their status set to change to permanent and pensionable in January 2025.
