More than 20,000 JSS teachers have asked the government to clear the air on their employment after the Finance Bill, 2024 was withdrawn.
The Junior Secondary School teachers said they want to know if their employment terms will change to permanent basis as earlier promised.
While withdrawing the Bill, President William Ruto said some of the money the Bill sought to raise targeted was to employ JSS teachers.
Through the National Parents Association, they said withdrawal of the Bill has left in limbo.
Secretary general Eskimos Kobia said gains made in the new system could be eroded if the government failed to keep its promise.
The teachers have been working as interns for two years.
“There is anxiety over what happens to the JSS intern teachers after the President rejected the Finance Bill meaning a slash in budgetary allocation,” Kobia said.
He said the teachers are currently demoralised due to the confusion.
“It will be unthinkable to postpone the employment of these teachers because it will make them unproductive and affect the education system,” Kobia said.
Kobia expressed concern with the ongoing demonstrations, saying they could affect the education calendar.
He said schools in urban centres had been affected, forcing students to stay at home or leave school early.
“The demonstrations which started peacefully have been hijacked by criminals leading to running battles with the police and in the process affecting learning,” Kobia said.
One of the JSS teachers who declined to be named said failure to employ them as promised, will lead to dire consequences as they are not ready to act as interns for another year.
“The President has said there will be budget cuts after he rejected the Finance Bill and we hope the funds set aside for employing teachers will not be affected,” he said.