The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is set to make significant strides in addressing staffing gaps in junior and primary schools by confirming over 25,000 intern teachers onto permanent and pensionable terms (PNP). This development, announced by Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, Ndindi Nyoro, during the presentation of appropriations for the 2024 – 2025 budget in Parliament, underscores the government’s commitment to bolstering the education sector.
Confirmation Criteria:
- Renewed Contracts: Only intern teachers who have renewed their internship contracts will be eligible for confirmation onto permanent and pensionable terms.
- Allocation: Funds for confirming the teachers have been factored into the 2024 – 2025 budget, reflecting the government’s prioritization of education.
Recruitment and Placement:
- Previous Recruitment: The Commission will confirm 20,000 intern teachers recruited in February 2023.
- Job Placement: Graduate intern teachers will be placed in job group C2, while those with PTE certificates will start in grade B5.
Bridging Staffing Gaps:
- Ongoing Recruitment: TSC Chief Executive Dr. Nancy Macharia recently announced plans to recruit an additional 20,000 teachers to address staffing shortages in junior schools.
- Staffing Needs: Junior secondary schools currently face severe teacher shortages, with a requirement of 99,045 teachers against the existing count of 56,928.
Deployment Strategies:
- P1 Teacher Deployment: TSC is deploying P1 teachers to junior schools to optimize staffing, following a surplus of 18,194 teachers in primary schools due to curriculum changes.
- Graduate P1 Teachers: Opportunities for promotion to junior school have been extended to serving primary school teachers with degrees in secondary education and requisite KCSE grades.
Future Prospects:
- Conversion to PNP: Intern teachers have been assured by TSC of conversion to permanent and pensionable terms in January 2025, following the completion of their two-year internship contracts.
- Government Policy: President William Ruto reaffirmed the government’s commitment to internship reforms, with all government agencies now implementing a two-year internship policy.
President Ruto’s assurance underscores the government’s proactive measures to enhance employment prospects for intern teachers and strengthen the education sector’s workforce. As TSC moves forward with its recruitment and confirmation processes, the education landscape in Kenya stands to benefit from these strategic interventions.