Remember the good old days when getting a job in the noble field of teaching was as simple as graduating from a Teachers Training College (TTC) with the proper credentials.
Not only is it difficult to find a job these days, but even internships are difficult to come by. Intern teachers have complained that the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) terms of engagement are punitive.
The intern teachers are protesting the KSh 15,000 monthly stipend provided by the Teachers Service Commission.
They went on to say that, despite doing the same amount of work as permanent and pensionable teachers, their pay leaves a lot to be desired.
Furthermore, they expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that the commission has so many of them on internship but consistently offers so few job openings.
To begin, the positions are advertised for those who are not currently employed by a government agency but have TSC numbers.
The contract is for one year and is renewed if the employee does not secure a permanent and pensionable position in another school.
They criticized the fact that there are many intern teachers, but when it comes to permanent and pensionable positions, there are fewer vacancies advertised.
Those appointed are assigned to the schools for which they have been selected, with a salary of KSh 20,000 for secondary schools and KSh 15,000 for primary schools.
When an intern teacher is assigned to a school, he or she is expected to perform all of the duties of a trained teacher, except that the salary is lower than that of TSC teachers.
Despite the fact that intern teachers do not receive any allowances from their employers, they are required to pay NHIF and their salary is taxed.
Those who are stationed in remote areas must contend with meager stipends to make ends meet, which is demoralizing for many.
On that note the government has promised to look into the matter and ensure Internship Teachers are paid well because they are equally Teachers. Let’s hope the government will work with speed and allocate funds that will enable Internship Teachers to get a better pay.
