Reinstate sacked JSS teachers or face censure by Parliament, Cherargei tells TSC

 

When Nairobi County Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers held peaceful demonstrations, on May 13, 2024. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

The Teacher Service Commission is on the spot for sacking 7,357 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers across the country.

A section of Members of Parliament led by  Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei asked the commission to immediately rescind its punitive disciplinary measure or face censure by Parliament.

Addressing journalists in Parliament Buildings Cherargei asked the Teachers Service Commission to immediately embark on the process of employing all the over 46,000 intern teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.

“We are asking the Teachers Service Commission to rescind the termination of contract and recall the 7,357 letters that were sent to Junior Secondary School teachers, the measure taken is very punitive and is unacceptable,” said Cherargei.

The Nandi Senator said that the commission led by CEO Nancy Macharia will next week be summoned to appear before parliament to explain the rationale behind the unpopular decision should they fail to rescind it by the end of this week.

TSC in a statement yesterday confirmed the sacking of some JSS teachers stating that it had only sacked 742 JSS teachers and not 7,357 tutors and that they had been relieved of their duties due to mass protests that saw thousands take to the streets to demand for permanent employment.

The commission had on May 22 sent show cause letters to the protesting teachers who had absconded their duties in which they were required to submit their responses in two weeks with 10,348 who absented themselves from work from May 13, 2024 given show-cause letters to explain their whereabouts.

“Out of 10,348 teachers who received the show-cause letters, 9,606 teachers were able to respond within the two weeks, 742 teachers who did not report to work and whose whereabouts were not known had their contracts terminated and replaced," said the commission.

Cherargei termed the decision made by TSC as unfair and against human rights as enshrined in the constitution terming it as unjust, and that it was against all human rights to terminate the contracts of these young patriots who have served with diligence.

He said that it should be remembered that the teachers had pioneered CBC Education despite the poor working conditions and lack of requisite facilities and that they have enabled pupils in all schools across the country to adjust to the programme.

The Nandi Senator accused the teachers’ employer of turning into hypocrites by terminating the contracts of the teachers who had already called off their strike since they were simply advocating for improved terms and employment to permanent and pensionable terms.

 “Junior Secondary School and Intern-teachers have remained demoralized, frustrated, stressed and mentally disturbed due to blackmail and intimidation they have been put through by the Teachers Service Commission, County Education Directors and the School Heads,” said Cherargei.

The termination letters, dated June 6, seen by the Standard indicated several of the teachers were sacked over what TSC termed as professional misconduct with the Commission having decided the Internship engagement ends with effect from June 6, 2024, on the grounds they engaged in acts of professional misconduct.

The letters stated that the teachers had deserted duty with effect from May 13, 2024, while engaged as Intern teachers with reference made to the show cause letter on May 22, 2024, in which they were accorded an opportunity to explain the reasons why their engagement as interns should not be terminated on account of professional misconduct.

The Teachers Service Commission explained that it had carefully considered some of the responses and found them to be unsatisfactory leading to the decision to terminate the service of teachers who could not explain themselves.