John S. Khabamba

Calls are growing for Teachers Service Commission to reinstate the sacked JSS interns. Already Kuppet has petitioned TSC to rescind its decision to axe over 700 teachers, the Ministry Of Education has also dived  into the matter.  Kakamega Governor, Fernandes Barasa is the latest figure to add their voice to the impasse. TSC headquarters in Nairobi. Photo by The Standard.  Speaking during a KNUT function in Mumias, the first time Governor  urged TSC to recall the termination letters issued to the tutors for apparently missing duty without satisfactory reasons.  "On behalf of the Council of Governers, we demand the reinstatement of the sacked teachers because it's their right to picket." The governor said in part.  TSC wrote to over ten thousand teachers demanding an explanation as to why they missed duty during the first week of opening. Of the number, over nine thousand responded to the show cause letters within the procedural two weeks. According to the e...

 Teacher Service Commission has continued to show more  JSS interns the exit door despite the castigation. Last week, TSC made the bold decision discontinue the services of over 700 interns nationwide for professional misconduct and it seems they are not yet done. Today ten more teachers had their services terminated in Kisii County Photo courtesy.  JSS teachers, emboldened by the labor court decision to declare the controversial internship program illegal, staged nationwide demos demanding employment on Permanent and Pensionable terms. The seemingly well organized industrial action was sustained for nearly three weeks sending shock waves to the TSC offices.  Two weeks later, a section of JSS lobby group 'ended' it and called on teachers to return to work without qualms of possible victimization. This was after 'signing' a Return to Work Formula brokered by KUPPET. One of the consensus was non-victimization of the those who missed school ostensibly due to their parti...

 Court of Appeal has poured cold water on the hopes of thousands of JSS interns who were inching closer to Permanent and Pensionable employment. On Monday the appellate court suspended the Employment and Labour Relations Court Order which had declared internship program illegal. The suspension effectively sustains legality of the teacher internship program until the case is heard and determined. TSC is also under no obligation to convert the currently engaged intern teachers to PnP and is at liberty to engage more in the meantime.  Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru via Daily Nation Earlier last month, High Court Justice Byram Ongaya, in his ruling pointed out that the Teacher Service Commission was overstepping their mandate by engaging interns without proper structural and legal backing. He directed the TSC  to compensate the tutors for time they had served under the program and confirm them into PnP unless they get  contrary orders from a superior bench. Dissatisfied with...