TSC extends intern teachers contracts for four months

Intern teachers during past protests to demand employment on permanent and pensionable terms. [File, Standard]

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has extended the contracts of 20,000 intern teachers for four months ahead of January conversion to permanent terms.
The TSC's engagement of the intern teachers, which began on September 1, 2023, expires on August 31, 2024, prompting the renewal of contracts.
Contract letters seen by The Standard shows that the Commission has directed school head teachers to extend contracts for willing intern teachers.
"We refer to your internship contract... and letter of Engagement with the Commission. The Commission appreciates your service as a teacher Intern; your service and commitment have improved learning and education at your station and enhanced your skills through practical experience, mentorship, coaching, and exposure," reads the TSC document.
"If you accept the offer, you must submit a copy of a Personal Accident cover for the extended period and continue serving at your current station. In the event you decline the offer, you are required to hand over the institutional property in your custody to the Head of Institution and clear with the school."
TSC said on Wednesday the contract signing must be completed by August 30, 2024, to ensure uninterrupted service.
However, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has faulted the Commission for going against the Labour Court directive.
Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori accused TSC of stalling the employment of teachers by offering them temporary internships instead.
"The courts made a judgement on the teachers serving in the Junior Secondary and Primary schools. But the Commission continues to kill the morale of teachers by engaging in illegal engagement," Miasori said.
He said the contract extension is a temporary patch on a larger wound. "They have abused all laws of the land. They have gone to court with unclean hands to the issues affecting the teachers of this country," he said.
Junior Secondary School (JSS) Treasurer Patience Nkatha confirmed that letters were sent to head teachers of public primary and JSS from Sub-County Directors on behalf of the TSC CEO.
"The teachers had only two days (with a deadline of August 28) to fill and submit the forms to the County and Sub-County TSC offices. The headteachers were to ensure the interns submit their personal accident cover for the remaining months of this year," Nkatha explained.
"Failure to submit the personal accident cover will be regarded as a decline of the internship."
Head teachers of primary and JSS were given two days (on Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 a.m.) to accompany their intern teachers to sign a one-year internship contract extension.
However, this extension is only valid for four months, from September 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, leaving teachers with more questions than answers.
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