Junior Secondary School intern teachers deployed in Murang’a County have raised an alarm over interference by politicians in the employment process of teachers.
On Thursday, the intern teachers complained that a section of politicians have taken over the role of employment of teachers from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) adding they are providing employment opportunities to their cronies.
In a press briefing at Murang’a town, the intern teachers who have served a one-year internship in various schools feared they may not get employed permanently since they are not connected to their area members of parliament.
One of the teachers, Julia Mwangi condemned the meddling politicians saying with interference in the employment of teachers, the politicians are going against the criteria TSC uses to employ tutors.
She said teachers who completed their studies recently are getting employed before those who finished their degree program earlier on.
“We are really worried that teachers who completed their studies last year are given jobs provided they are close to politicians before those who cleared their education like six to seven years ago.
“According to the criteria used to employ teachers, the year in which one graduated is considered. We want the TSC to come out clearly and announce who has the powers of recruiting teachers,” posed Mwangi.
She continued “It’s also a shame for the politicians to post on social media platforms the number of teachers they have helped to get employed. This field needs to be governed by policies and structures like other professionals. If the responsibility of employing teachers is left to politicians, I’m worried some graduates will stay for many years without being permanently employed.
The JSS intern teachers further appealed to TSC to absorb them permanently saying the contract they signed when they were hired indicates that after serving for one year, they will be absorbed permanently.
“It seems TSC wants to shortchange us. According to the information we got it’s like we will continue serving as interns from next year, they are exploiting us considering the payment we receive every month which is hardly enough to cater to our needs,” added another intern teacher, Patrick Muriuki.
He observed that since TSC plans to employ teachers next year, the commission should first absorb those who have already served as interns.
“We work like other teachers and the TSC has the responsibility to absorb us on permanent terms but not to push us to continue serving as interns for another year,” argued Muriuki.
Another teacher Polycarp Mutugi vowed that they will continue to push for their rights and ensure all those who have served as interns get employed permanently by TSC.
“TSC should not try to hoodwink us, let the commission follow terms in the contract we signed, and give us permanent employment. It will be worrying to see the more than 46, 000 JSS teachers resume work in January next year as interns,” observed Mutugi.