TSC Extends Contracts for 20,000 Intern Teachers as They Await Permanent Status in 2025.
In a move aimed at maintaining continuity in Kenya’s education system, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has extended the contracts of 20,000 intern teachers for an additional four months, running from September 1 to December 31, 2024. The extension ensures that these teachers, initially hired in 2023, will remain employed until their expected conversion to permanent and pensionable terms in January 2025.
This extension follows ongoing demands by intern teachers for more secure employment, with many advocating for permanent roles. TSC acknowledged their contributions to enhancing education quality and emphasized that the extension would allow them to continue gaining practical experience, mentorship, and coaching.
While this decision provides short-term relief, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has expressed dissatisfaction, criticizing the continued reliance on temporary contracts. They argue that the TSC is stalling on permanently employing the teachers, despite legal rulings and promises for permanent roles.
The government has set aside KSh 18.7 billion to fund the conversion of these intern teachers to permanent positions. However, the extension has raised concerns about teacher morale, as many feel that their transition to permanent status has been unnecessarily delayed. Nevertheless, TSC assured that the delay is a temporary step in a broader plan to stabilize the teaching workforce across Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and other levels.
