The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers has threatened the Teachers Service Commission with court action over the recent sacking of Junior Secondary School intern teachers.
The teachers’ employer on Monday sent packing 742 intern teachers barely two days after they called off their nationwide strike, citing professional misconduct.
In a statement on Wednesday, Kuppet deputy secretary general Moses Nthurima said TSC failed to follow due process in laying off the teachers.
He said the commission condemned the teachers unheard thereby in contravention of the rule of natural justice.
“TSC has condemned young teachers to joblessness. We want to condemn this unfortunate incident because TSC didn't follow the right procedure," Nthurima said.
In letters of dismissal sent to the affected teachers, TSC said the tutors failed to either provide satisfactory response to show cause letters sent last month while some chose not to respond.
“The commission has noted you failed and/or ignored to provide any reason for your absence from duty and in view of the above the commission has terminated your internship effective June 6, 2024,” the teacher's employer said.
The commission told some of those who filed responses that it “found the same to be unsatisfactory and in view of the above, the commission has terminated your internship”.
The show cause letters were sent on May 13 to teachers 7,357 and the sacking letters dated June 6 but sent to school heads on June 10.
The teachers, who had been on strike since April 17, called off their strike after the National Assembly’s Labour and Education committees agreed with some of their demands and presented them to the budget committee ahead of Thursday’s budget presentation.
Nthurima said the TSC rescinded on the mutual agreement with the union that teachers who had agreed to resume work would not be punished.
As such, he said the union will seek legal redress following the stern action taken by TSC against the intern teachers.
The deputy SG further pointed out that all teachers should be absorbed on permanent and pensionable
"KUPPET has spent months lobbying TSC and the National Assembly and we shall not sit back and watch TSC sacking teachers. We are asking them to consider their decision. The Union is considering going to court because this is unfair and unlawful," he said.