Junior Secondary School intern teachers who have been protesting for the past few weeks seeking permanent employment terms have started receiving termination letters from their employer.
The Star has seen letters reportedly sent to the interns by the Teachers Service Commission dated June 6, noting that their employment has been terminated "on grounds of professional misconduct."
"In view of the above, the Commission has decided to terminate your Internship engagement with effect from June 6, 2024, because you engaged in acts of professional misconduct in that you deserted duty with effect from May 13, 2024, to date while engaged as an Intern teacher," the termination letter read in part.
However, the Teachers Service Commission has clarified that it is not terminating all the contracts of Junior Secondary School intern teachers.
TSC noted that it has up to 46, 000 teachers contracted into internship positions across the country.
On May 13, TSC sent show-cause letters to the protesting teachers who had absconded their teaching duties.
"Total number who absented themselves from May 13, 2024, given show-cause letters to explain their whereabouts are 10,348," the Commission said.
TSC noted that on May 22, it sent out show-cause letters to the interns for missing school as they were protesting.
TSC asked the interns to submit a response on the matter within 14 days, failure to which the intended action would finally be taken.
"Reference is made to the show cause letter 22 May 2024 in which you were accorded an opportunity to explain the reasons why your engagement as an intern should not be terminated on account of professional misconduct," TSC said.
Out of 10,348 teachers who received the show-cause letters, only 9,606 teachers were able to respond within the two weeks, TSC said.
"Number of teachers who did not report back, whereabouts not known and their contracts were terminated and replaced are 742," TSC said.
A permanent teacher based in Nairobi who sought anonymity said the information has even been passed to other teachers in the staffroom.
"Two of our interns who were actively taking part in the protests have received the termination letters," he said.
