Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has given assurance that learning in Junior Secondary Schools is in progress despite intern teachers downing their tools.
Belio said learning is still in progress as it is not only the JSS intern teachers who have been tutoring the learners.
He said the ministry will always be concerned with anything that disrupts learning.
"There is disruption, yes but we have backup systems and our children are learning. I can assure you one thing, intern teachers are not the only ones who tutor these learners," Belio said.
The PS said other teachers have been graded, with adequate training who are in class with the JSS learners as the interns protest.
He spoke on Thursday at Moi Girls Nairobi where he officially launched the 2024 schools census exercise.
Belio acknowledged that the interns are a critical cog in JSS learning.
"We are ensuring that we minimize the disruption that has been caused by the protests by intern teachers," Belio said.
Further, he gave assurance that the State has set aside funds to confirm the intern teachers into permanent and pensionable terms.
"We are assuring our intern teachers, that if they check in our budget for the next financial year, we have provided for their confirmation because we said they shall be undertaking a two-year internship programme which will automatically lead them to Pand P terms," he said.
"If they are slightly patient, then they will get the terms of employment they want."
The teachers have been conducting protests across the country.
Nairobi JSS interns on May 13 held protests and vowed to continuously hold protests until they were employed under permanent and pensionable terms.
The intern teachers are currently employed on contract annually.
Nairobi county JSS intern teachers Chairperson Owino Okelo led the teachers on a protest where they marched from the Nairobi bus terminus to TSC headquarters.
"There will be constant strikes by JSS teachers in Nairobi and the country at large until we are confirmed into permanent and pensionable terms," he said.
