46,000 JSS teachers who were recently converted from internship to permanent and pensionable positions are demanding compensation for their time served as interns.
The teachers now under Kenya Junior School Teachers Association (Kejusta) want to be represented in already established unions like Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet).
Issues to be addressed
- Internship Compensation They want to be paid for their years of service as interns which they say was undervalued compared to their current terms of employment.
- Union Representation Kejusta chairperson Omari Omari accused Knut and Kuppet of not representing JSS teachers in union activities and therefore not giving them fair representation.
- Challenges Without Union Support
- Teachers were being intimidated while pushing for permanent employment.
- Without union protection they were left with unresolved grievances.
Mr. Omari said, “Without union protection we had to fight for ourselves, we suffered for two years as interns unfairly.”
Union Integration
During the Knut delegates’ conference in 2024, JSS teachers demanded for dedicated positions within the union so that their voices can be heard. Knut Secretary-General Collins Oyuu told them to be patient and he will discuss their demands.
Teachers are asking for at least 500 reserved positions within Knut to cater for their needs.
Government and Progress
President William Ruto has been commended for his big investment in education, especially the recruitment of 46,000 teachers which is the biggest one-time recruitment in Kenya’s history.
Despite this, JSS teachers say their professional growth and stability is being hindered by unresolved issues like lack of union support and compensation.
Next Steps
- Union Membership: JSS teachers are considering to join existing unions or build Kejusta as a strong union on its own.
- Advocacy: They want immediate action from both unions and TSC.