Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers in Kilifi County have threatened to down tools if the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) does not offer them permanent contracts before the next academic year. The teachers claim they have been performing the same duties as their permanently employed counterparts, yet continue to receive low pay, affecting their productivity and livelihoods.
Speaking in Kilifi Town, Mutuku Mutuku, a representative of the intern teachers, stated that TSC plans to have them sign another internship contract, despite their initial one-year contracts having already expired.
“We have worked diligently for a whole year, handling the same workload as permanent teachers, but our pay remains extremely low. It is unfair for TSC to ask us to sign another internship contract. We deserve confirmation,” Mutuku said.
The teachers also criticised Members of Parliament for not raising their concerns in the National Assembly or securing a budget for their permanent employment. “Our MPs have remained silent on our issue. We urge them to push for funds to facilitate our employment,” another teacher added.
Mogere Caleb, Kilifi Branch Executive Secretary of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), emphasised the need for the government to comply with a court order abolishing internship programs for teachers. He called for all qualified teachers to be employed on permanent and pensionable terms immediately after graduation.
“The government should respect the court order and stop engaging teachers on internship. Permanent employment will restore their dignity and improve their livelihoods,” Mogere said, noting that many teachers struggle to meet basic needs due to meagre internship stipends.
The looming strike comes at a critical time, as Kilifi schools prepare to implement Competency-Based Education (CBE) for Grade 10. Teachers warn that the shortage of JSS teachers, if unaddressed, may disrupt the new curriculum rollout.
With the deadline for permanent contracts approaching, Kilifi JSS teachers are now calling on TSC and the government to act swiftly to avert a potential strike that could affect thousands of students.
