There is a looming crisis in the education sector as Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers openly dismissed President William Ruto's directive to promote them after two years. 

The educators took to the streets on Saturday, November 15 as they accused the government and Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of contradiction regarding contracts. 

Ruto, on Thursday, November 13, announced that JSS teachers, who typically work as interns, would receive permanent contracts after two years of service as part of the government's efforts to enhance the state of education in Kenya.

"We decided that the JSS interns would be hired on a permanent and pensionable basis after two years of service; no negotiation,” the President said. 

However, the teachers argue that the two-year timeline contradicts the contracts which they signed, which allegedly stipulated confirmation after 12 months of service. 

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"The contract that we signed last year November, indicated internship would be a one off non renewable program for 12 months from January 6 to December 1," one intern said. 

The teachers are now accusing the TSC of shifting goal posts and violating its own promotion guidelines, insisting that at least 20,000 teachers should have already been confirmed. 

In response to Ruto's declaration, JSS teachers insist they would not accept what they describe as broken promises after serving under unacceptable working conditions. 

Backed by KUPPET, the teachers demanded promotion to permanent and pensionable terms, which would upgrade their salaries from the Ksh17,000 they are currently earning. 

JSS teachers have also renewed demands for full autonomy, arguing that being placed under primary schools has caused confusion in co-curricular activities, administrative roles and overall school management under the new system.

KUPPET officials claim the delays in confirmation have worsened the education sector with KUPPET Tharaka Nithi Secretary Patrick Gitonga decrying the under-representation of JSS teachers. 

“We want JSS teachers to be given autonomy so they can represent themselves; depending on other jurisdictions is affecting the conduct of their mandate," he said. 

With the new academic year less than seven weeks away, unrest among JSS teachers is spreading beyond Mery and Tharaka Nithi, with reports suggesting the interns across other countries also share similar sentiments. 

One of the biggest disruptions stemming from discontent by JSS teachers came in 2024 when a major strike pushed the Budget and Appropriation Committee to direct TSC to hire all JSS interns with funds set to be allocated in the 2024-2025 financial year.