By Betty Luke
Tens of Junior Secondary School teachers working in Isiolo have protested poor pay and failure by the Teacher Service Commission (TSC) to employ them on permanent basis, threatening to town their tools.
The intern teachers accused the Teachers Service Commission of violating the law and subjecting them to an inhumane treatment.
“We are working under very harsh conditions where Sh17,000 pay is not enough to take care of our families. We cannot even pay school fees for our children,” One of the teachers, Sophia Mukami, lamented.
Addressing journalists during a peaceful protest in Isiolo town, they also accused their employer of subjecting their little pay to taxation leaving them with very little to take care of their basic needs.
They also decried heavy workload saying despite specializing in two subjects, they were being forced to teach over 10 subjects.
“Our parents struggled to take us through an education system but we have been turned into cleaners, painters and cooks for the children,” added Ms Mukami.
They said they would not resume work until they are confirmed as permanent and pensionable teachers.
Another intern teacher, Ernest Murithi, said they had no other option than boycotting work to push TSC into obeying a court ruling that illegalized the TSC’s internship program.
“We have been patient for two years now but can longer continue working in such an environment. It is either they confirm us or we boycott work,” he said.
A recent court ruling indicated that offering internship to fully qualified and licensed teachers violate their rights to fair labour practice.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET) county secretary Moses Kimwere threatened legal action against the TSC for disrespecting the court ruling.
“We shall not allow the government to continue imprisoning the minds of these teachers. They are qualified and deserve to be treated fairly,” he said.
