President Ruto Assures Permanent Employment for Junior Secondary School Teachers by End of 2024
President William Ruto has announced that all Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers will be confirmed and placed under permanent and pensionable terms by the end of 2024. Speaking on Wednesday at the commissioning of the Kimuka Power Sub Station in Kajiado West, Kajiado County, President Ruto addressed the ongoing concerns of JSS teachers despite the financial challenges posed by the withdrawal of the Finance Bill.
“I want to tell all our JSS teachers, despite all the challenges in the Finance Bill, we are going to make sure that we confirm all teachers under JSS before the end of this year so that they can teach knowing that as we agreed, they will serve under permanent and pensionable terms,” the President stated.
This announcement comes amid heightened concerns regarding the plight of JSS teachers under the new competence-based curriculum (CBC). In June, a strike by JSS teachers prompted the Budget and Appropriation Committee to direct the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to hire all JSS teachers currently working under an internship program on permanent and pensionable terms. The chairperson of the committee, who is also the Kiharu Member of Parliament, confirmed that sufficient funds had been allocated for this initiative in the 2024/2025 Financial Year.
“I can assure this house that there are now sufficient resources to confirm the JSS interns into permanent and pensionable terms,” the committee chairperson declared, urging the TSC to expedite the hiring process following the passage of the budget.
Adding to the 46,000 teachers already in the TSC register, President Ruto has temporarily suspended plans to hire 20,000 more teachers until next year to better align the education sector. This decision follows a three-week protest by JSS intern teachers just before Madaraka Day. The strike ended after a return-to-work agreement was signed on June 1, 2024, which included the withdrawal of show-cause letters issued to striking teachers.
Despite the return-to-work agreement, some JSS teachers have refused to resume their duties, insisting that they will only return once they are hired on permanent and pensionable terms.
The government’s commitment to confirming JSS teachers is seen as a significant step towards stabilizing the teaching workforce and ensuring the successful implementation of the new curriculum. The education sector now awaits the swift execution of these promises to address the grievances and secure the future of JSS education in Kenya.