JSS teachers want internship program scrapped, terms it exploitative

JSS teachers from Murang'a county protesting against the internship program in Maragua town on November 8, 2025./ALICE WAITHERA

Junior secondary school teachers from Murang’a county have asked the government to scrap the internship programme saying it subjects them to unfavourable working terms.

 The teachers who took to the streets of Maragua town on Saturday, told journalists that they receive significantly reduced pay compared to their counterparts employed under permanent and pensionable terms despite having the same workload.

 Gasper Ochieng’ expressed worry over reports that the government intends to have them renew their annual internship contract despite serving for one year.

 The teachers called for the confirmation of over 20,000 teachers who are currently serving as interns, accusing the state of subjecting them to cheap labour.

 “We are paid Sh20,000 monthly but only get Sh17,000 after deductions. This money is too little to support someone in this economy, especially for those in urban areas,” he said.

 He said the meager salary has left the interns struggling to pay bills and support themselves, reducing their productivity.

 Ochieng’ called on the government to ensure it employs all JSS interns to make it easier for them to carry out their duties.

 The teachers also faulted the state for making conflicting statements with Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi giving an assurance that Sh5.4 billion will be allocated to employ them by January next year during an interview in a local radio station last week.

 His Education counterpart Julius Ogamba who appeared before the National Assembly on November 5 however announced that employing the interns on permanent terms was a toll order as there are no funds for the exercise.

 “Let the government give us clear information. We want Teachers Service Commission to advertise the 20,000 slots so we can be employed.”

 Joan Mugweru, another teacher, said the interns are exploited in the name of providing them with teaching skills.

 Mugweru said unlike in other professions, the teachers are expected to fully dispense their duties while receiving half the salary of their employed colleagues.

 Thomas Kimani took issues with the government’s decision to shift teachers’ health insurance from the Minet scheme to Social Health Authority (SHA).

 “If they do that, we will lose integral benefits that we have been getting and will no longer access specialised health care in our desired facilities because SHA requires one to be referred to a specialist from lower health facilities.”

 He however noted that the funds deducted from their salaries for health care are enough to provide them access to premium services in high-cadre facilities.

 The Minet scheme provided an inpatient cover of up to Sh3 million for the highest job group and Sh1 million for the lowest, up to Sh450,000 for outpatient cover for the highest job group and Sh150,000 for the lowest, and Dental, optical, maternity, and funeral expense cover.

 Kimani urged the Education ministry to handle the transition with care saying teachers’ productivity could be affected by poor health care.

 “SHA has previously said it has no capacity to handle teachers. What drastically changed for the transition to be okayed?” he asked.

 Polycarp Mureithi called for JSS to be granted autonomy from primary schools to enable them to run efficiently.

 Under primary schools, Mureithi said the schools have been grappling with poor facilitation of both curricular and co-curricular activities, forcing teachers to improvise as they teach learners.