In numerous towns across the country, Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers boycotted classes, leaving students who reported back to school on Monday, 13 May 2024, stranded. Counties such as Narok, Nyeri, Meru, Nyamira, and Machakos were notably affected, with teachers marching through the streets to highlight their grievances.
Intern teachers, represented by Okello Owino, the chairman of intern teachers in Nairobi County, have expressed their commitment to obeying a recent court ruling by the Employment and Labour Relations Court, and the subsequent nullification of internship for trained, registered, and licensed teachers. Owino stated that they will obey the ruling of the court by staying away from schools.
In their demands, the intern teachers seek to be paid salaries that match those of their counterparts with permanent and pensionable status for the period they have been working. Additionally, they want their contracts to be modified and enhanced to permanent and pensionable terms.
The court’s ruling found their employment contracts to be illegal, further fueling the teachers’ demands for better job security and improved compensation.