We want better terms, say Murang’a JSS tutors

Junior secondary school teachers from Murang’a county have vowed not to resume their duties once schools re-open next week.

The teachers have accused the government of shortchanging them and giving empty promises.

They took to the streets in Murang’a town on Wednesday saying they will continue protesting until their calls for better terms are heeded.

They said the Kenya National Union of Teachers and Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers have not backed them up in the fight for better employment terms.

Polycarp Mutugi, a JSS teacher, said they are poorly remunerated despite being qualified for their jobs.

“Why are we the only interns getting Sh17,000 per month while interns in other professions receive significantly more?” he asked.

Mutugi said teachers should be compensated for the period that they have been underpaid.

They want the TSC to obey a ruling made by the Employment and Labor Relations Court to employ them on permanent basis.

He said teachers will only resume work after receiving their confirmation letters, adding that their role in the education sector is pivotal and that their contribution should be better appreciated.

Brian Mobisa, another teacher, said the government lured them back into class in January this year with the promise that their grievances would be addressed.

But the pledge that they would receive their confirmation letters from TSC remained just a promise, he said.

“No learning will take place in junior secondary schools all over the country until the government takes us seriously and gives us better terms,” he said.

Gideon Sifuna said as JSS teachers, they are handling the pioneer learners of CBC and that the new curriculum could fail if the government continues ignoring them.

He noted that even the learning materials provided by the government are insufficient which could compromise the quality of education.