The Government of Kenya has invested a significant portion of its budget on the implementation of the CBC curriculum, but those who are tasked with implementing the new curriculum are facing myriad of challenges.
Intern teachers serving in areas affected by banditry and general insecurity such as North Eastern, North Rift, and Laikipia regions are threatening to use industrial action and protests if they are not confirmed as PNPs upon completion of their one-year internship contract. Other moguls across the country are reportedly willing to join the go-slow.
The moguls who have just completed their second retooling exercise in various locations across the country have a general feeling that the government may ignore their concerns.
Intern teachers currently earn a basic salary of KES 20,000 which is deducted to the region of about KES 16,000-17,000 through taxes and levies.
In light of increasing cost of living, JSS intern teachers are looking forward to PNP confirmation which would inevitably raise their monthly stipends.
Intern teachers face even further challenges in areas affected by insecurity such as Baringo North, Baringo South, West Pokot, Elgeiyo Marakwet, Laikipia, Lamu, and North Eastern.
Confirming them as PNP will relieve them even if just a little bit. With an increase in the size of their pockets, these moguls can at least have enough to eat and move when bandits hit their neighborhoods.
There are many issues that teachers in affected regions face that the general population is either oblivious or ignorant about.
First, teachers and students in these areas act as buffers. In 2015 several teachers were killed by terrorists in Mandera. Just recently, students were killed in Elgeiyo Marakwet.
These incidents indicate that teachers are not spared when criminals attack.
Since Ruto’s government ascended to power, at least 20 people have been killed in the lower sides of Saimo Soi, Bartabwa and Barweza wards of Baringo North.
Teachers live in these conditions each day, every week, every year. To think that university graduates go home with less than KES 20,000 every month under such conditions is mindboggling and inconceivable.
By and large, JSS moguls serving as interns should be confirmed as permanent teachers for them to savor the noble cause for transforming education in the country.
