TSC set to employ 46,000 intern teachers on permanent, pensionable terms

Intern teachers demonstrate in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu county, to demand employment on permanent and pensionable terms on May 6, 2024. [File, Standard].

The conversion of 46,000 intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms has started after the employer invited qualified candidates to apply.

Communication from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) says that out of these, 39, 550 will be posted to teach in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).

The remaining 6,000 will be posted in the ordinary primary school level while 450 are expected to teach in secondary schools.

The Standard established that this process signals the start of absorbing the teachers interns who had been on contract.

Last week, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba told MPs that the intern teachers will have to apply afresh to be considered for permanent and pensionable terms.

Ogamba said TSC would begin the transition of the intern teachers’ to permanent and pensionable terms up to December.

“The Commission will subject the said teachers to a competitive process in accordance with the Constitution and all the relevant laws. Candidates will be confirmed in their positions effective January 1, 2025, as per the approved budgetary allocation timelines,” Ogamba told the National Parliament Committee on Education.

The call for applications, The Standard established, is part of a wider plan by the government to recruit the teachers after the expiry of their two years’ contract.

The commission has advised the serving intern teachers to apply in their current counties/Sub-Counties or working stations.

The intern teachers are expected to present their Identity cards for verification purposes.

A source from TSC revealed that the advertisement has been made to allow other eligible teachers to apply.

“The opportunity is meant for the intern teachers, only that they have tried to regularize to make it competitive,” he said.

“In the competition, the marks for those serving are automatic, that is the reason they have been requested to only present their IDs for verification purposes during the process.”

It emerged that there could be intern teachers who might not wish to take the jobs, hence allowing legible teachers to be absorbed.

“Suppose there is an intern who doesn’t want to take the job, it means that if somebody else applied, he or she will take up the position,” the TSC official said.

TSC indicated that manual application will not be considered. “Other interested applicants are expected to submit their applications online through the TSC's website, www.tsc.go.ke under ‘Careers’ for teachers online.tsc go.ke.” reads part of the advertisement," Commission said.

TSC said candidates must not fill more than one application for employment form. Filling two or more applications for employment will lead to automatic disqualification.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to present original academic and professional certificates. The TSC Recruitment Guidelines 2024/2025 Financial Year shall apply.

The Commission said, the minimum qualification for primary school teachers should be a P1 certificate, Diploma in education for those applying to teach in Junior and Secondary schools.
In addition, the candidates must be registered by the TSC as well as be a Kenyan Citizen.

Teachers unions have however insisted that all the intern teachers must be absorbed on permanent and pensionable terms.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary General Akello Misori urged the government to ensure enough teachers are employed.

“The deficit in our schools is what is worrying us. The number the government is giving us was meant for the last two classes in Junior Secondary. Next year we will have an extra class increasing the pupil ratio,” he said.

Misori noted that with the increasing population, the JSS needs more teachers to handle the situation.

“This year and next year pose more challenges than the previous years. The whole issue has not been cancelled. More resources must be allocated to ensure more human capital is invested to cater for this increasing student population,” he said, adding that the intern teachers were only holding brief and that number needs to be filled.

“There is still a huge deficit of teachers, the staffing situation is still dire, we want enough teachers in class.”