Outrage as 1,000 intern teachers are prevented from verification
After being locked out at the end of the hiring process, a number of patient university graduates who successfully undertook the verification process for internships with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) are complaining.
When requested to provide proof of their birth or voter registration in specific sub-counties, those in Nairobi who had been summoned by TSC for the final verification process that clears the way for the signing of one-year internship agreements told The Standard they were astonished.
When they were informed that their applications had been accepted, they claimed that this was not one of the conditions that the TSC sub-county officials had required them to satisfy.
They had to submit things like birth certificates, marriage certificates, title deeds to any property they owned, and voter registration cards.
A text message was sent to a graduate teacher who had applied for an internship opportunity at a junior secondary school in the Makadara sub-county. “Greetings, upon your successful application of internship you are required to attend a brief meeting on August 8, 2023 (Tuesday) at Baraka Primary in Makadara, Buruburu Zone at exactly 9. 00 am with original and very clear copies of the following…,” the text read.
In addition to academic credentials, the’successful’ applicants had to provide two passport-size coloured photos, a KRA pin certificate, a clear bank plate or ATM card, a pay point particulars form that was properly filled out, an NHIF card, an NSSF card, primary and secondary school transcripts, and an original medical examination report.
A copy of the Personal Accident Insurance Cover, a graduation booklet with only their names on the cover page and serial number page, an affidavit (if names are different or initials are used), a duly signed next of kin form downloaded from the TSC website, a birth certificate, and a national identification card were also required.
However, the applicants were taken aback when administrators—often assistant county commissioners (previously D.Os)—came to them and requested that they show proof that they were born in the respective sub-counties, owned property, or were registered to vote.
Some of the applicants who were rejected expressed their sadness at having spent weeks preparing for the test in vain.
“Consider rushing to fulfil all of these obligations, including purchasing personal accident insurance…I bought one yesterday,” a disgruntled job seeker who has been looking for work with TSC since graduating in 2016 said, requesting anonymity out of concern for retaliation.
Also Read: TSC Intern Recruits to Produce Title Deed and Voter’s Card During Recruitment
He claimed that it would have been preferable if we had never been asked to show those papers and sign internship agreements.
Another applicant questioned TSC about if it had changed its hiring process to be more like security, where only people who were born in the country could join the police, military, and other security organisations.
The applicant stated, “We assumed this was essentially an invitation to sign an internship agreement after successfully completing the verification stage (interview), but they have turned us away.
TSC had already released a number of recruitment criteria. For 20,000 teacher internship positions, the commission issued an invitation to apply last month.
According to the agency, in order to facilitate the implementation of the new curricula, 18,000 intern instructors will be sent to junior secondary schools (JSS) and the remaining 2,000 will be placed in primary schools.
Applications were supposed to be open for two weeks and close on July 18, yet they are still being accepted.
Candidates who are chosen for JSS will be expected to teach a variety of subjects as part of the curriculum and will get a monthly stipend of Sh20,000. Primary school teachers would be paid Sh15,000 per year.
According to Macharia, the internship contract, which lasts for one year and is supposed to prepare and maintain the competencies of those joining the teaching profession, expires.
According to her, “the programme targets unemployed registered teachers to be assigned to learning institutions where their teaching experience will be enhanced through mentoring, coaching, and exposure to practical teaching experiences.”
JSS teachers are required by TSC to have a minimum of a diploma in education and a minimum of C+ (Plus) and C+ (Plus) in two KCSE teaching courses.
Holders of a P1 Certificate should seek to teach in primary schools.
Whenever funds are available, according to Macharia, the commission aims to hire at least 25,000 teachers year for the following five years.
Outrage as 1,000 intern teachers are prevented from verification
