Intern teachers to be confirmed on permanent and pensionable terms this July
The 26,000 Junior Secondary teachers who have been serving on internship program will from July this year be absorbed on permanent and pensionable terms by TSC. These teachers have been on contract since January 2023.
Under the internship program that the TSC has been running, intern teachers in secondary schools have been earning Sh. 20,000 while their counterparts in primary level have been earning Sh. 15,000.
Starting July 1, intern teachers will be hired following the decision to advance the previously set hiring date from January 2025. This change came after an earlier resolution was dissolved and brought forward. According to Julius Melly, the chairperson of the House Committee on Education and Research, Sh. 8.3 billion has already been allocated to fund the hiring of these teachers.
“Beginning in the next financial year, the Teachers Service Commission should streamline the recruitment process to ensure that resources assigned to this function are fully utilized,” Melly was quoted during his submissions to the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
“Further, the Commission should convert the 26,000 interns to permanent employment beginning July 2024 and not January 2025 as proposed.”
Once converted, their salaries will be increased to a basic salary of Sh. 36,621. Additionally, they will receive allowances, including a housing allowance ranging from Sh. 9,600 to Sh. 16,500, depending on their job locations.
Melly added that the interns will also get additional benefits in form of commuter allowances, leave allowance and the TSC health insurance scheme.
“The conversion of terms of service for intern teachers will boost their morale and is also an assurance of the government’s commitment in ensuring that all future interns are converted to permanent employment after they successfully complete their internship period,” said Mr. Melly.