742 JSS intern teachers reinstated to payroll, to get stipend from August

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has reinstated to payroll a total of 742 junior school intern teachers it had dismissed for absconding duty.

TSC has reinstated the teachers after they appeared before its disciplinary panels in counties. Details show a number of letters were issued to some interns who failed to appear before the panels.

The Commission had directed the process to hear their appeals be concluded by 15th July 2024.

TSC has directed Principals of junior secondary schools to exit the teachers and reenter them in the online casualty portal.

The teachers will start to earn the stipend again at the end of August this year.

The intern teachers together with thousand others were first issued with ‘show cause’ letters after they failed to report to work when schools reopened in second term and were participating on strike agitating for their confirmation on permanent terms.

However the 742 interns failed to respond to the ‘show cause’ letters within 14 days as was directed by the Commission.

The teachers also did not participate in the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) retooling sessions organized by TSC in sub counties.

They were interdicted and their names struck off from TSC payroll. TSC gave them 21 days to appeal.

TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia when during her speech at Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) conference had revealed that the teachers will be reinstated to payroll.

SC has on its payroll a total of 46,000 teachers serving on internship terms.

These are 21,550 junior school and 4,000 primary school intern teachers recruited in February 2023. 450 secondary school intern teachers recruited in April 2023. 18,000 junior school and 2,000 primary school intern teachers recruited in September 2023.

TSC is planning to confirm the intern teachers on permanent and pensionable terms (PNP) this year.