Kisii: JSS teachers stage protests over employment terms

Junior secondary school teachers took to the streets in Kisii town, staging demonstrations to push for permanent and pensionable contracts.

"Tumehuzunishwa na yale ambayo yanaendelea, Rais wetu kama unatusikiza mahali uko, just science moguls are not happy at all, our contract inaisha 31st Dec... Ikifika January jua no class and no STEM," said Sally Ombui, JSS teacher, Kisii.

According to KUPPET, Kisii branch, the plight of JSS interns is exacerbated by confusion between the Ministry of Education and the Treasury.

"We have heard a number of times government contradicts itself in various ministries, we have conflict information from Treasury and CS Education, we want to tell the government from Kisii County, come next year if you are not going to confirm these teachers brought to teach STEM, then there will be no learning," said Abincha Joseph, KUPPET secretary general, Kisii.

"Yesterday in one of the local stations CS said he has already communicated to the Treasury requesting to produce funds for confirmation of JSS teachers. Unfortunately, this morning CS Treasury has said he has not gotten any letter confirming that the serving interns should be confirmed," said Peter Nyabuto, JSS teacher, Kisii.

The teachers are calling for an upward review of the monthly pay which currently stands at 17,000 shillings.

"Kwa sahii hii kandarasi ya mwaka moja ni kudunisha hadhi ya mwalimu nchini hususan wa sayansi... Tumeungana kusema ni confirmation and confirmation pekee," said Laban Ouko, KUPPET chairman, Kisii.