It’s now over four months since teachers were employed as interns by the Teachers Service Commission and yet to receive their salaries. There’s public outcry from Kenyans against the commission for acting in opaque way in this matter. This is blackmail and total injustice to the teaching fraternity. The interns in high school are to receive sh. 15,000 per month which are peanuts basing on the current cost of living.
The teachers who were recruited by the commission in December have had to endure difficult financial moments for the last four months. Some head of institutions have decided to re-employ them on BOM terms to cushion them on their daily expenses. Both TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia and the Chairperson, Dr. Lydia Nzomo have been summoned to appear before Senate Education Committee next week. The senate wants them to explain why they have taken too long to pay.
The senate Education committee which is chaired by Bomet senator Christopher Langat, wants the TSC to give clear humane timelines to end this debacle. Also the senate will be seeking an explanation why graduates employed as interns are going to be paid less compared to non-teaching staff.
On the other hand Kericho senator Aron Cheruiyot tasked the committee to seek information from TSC on the fate of interns after their contractual agreement is over. He stated that priority should be given to them in case of employment on permanent terms. its more disheartening when the teachers unions are silent on this matter affecting the teachers who will later join the same unions.
A graduate intern will go home with sh. 10,000 after deductions from NSSF, NHIF and HELB. All focus is now on the senate to correct the mess created by the Teachers Service Commission.
