Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers in Tharaka Nithi County took to the streets on Monday, calling on the government to confirm them on permanent and pensionable terms without further delay.
The teachers, who gathered in Chuka Igamba Ng’ombe, said they have worked under difficult conditions as interns and want the government to fulfil its promise of employing the 20,000 JSS teachers on permanent terms.
They also demanded that JSS be separated from primary school management, arguing that the current arrangement has stalled learning and made it hard for teachers to access the materials they need.
“Jambo la kwanza tunaomba hii serikali ni confirmation of the 20,000 JSS teachers. Mwalimu wa science akisema anunuliwe vifaa hanunuliwi because mwenye anasimamia hajui maana,” said teacher Patrick Gitonga, who insisted that the current setup is hurting delivery of lessons.
Another teacher, Dennis Kagwima, said JSS teachers have endured unfair treatment.
“Mwalimu wa JSS ameteseka sana. Ukienda kusema kitu unaambiwa unajiringa uko na degree. We are saying we are demanding autonomy,” he said.
Teacher Martin Nyaga added that giving JSS schools autonomy would not just benefit teachers but also improve learning conditions for students.
“Autonomy is not just good for teachers but also for parents and learners. When we have autonomy in JSS, the students will have better facilities,” he said.
The teachers urged the government to act swiftly, saying they want stability as schools prepare for the new term.
