TSC awaits mini budget approval to start hiring 20,000 intern teachers

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has kicked off plans to recruit 20,000 teachers on internship terms this year.

TSC will employ 18,000 junior school and 2,000 primary school intern teachers after it was captured in the supplementary budget 2024 – 2025.

Initially TSC was unable to employ teachers this year after the Treasury slashed the budget to employ new teachers following quashing of the Finance Bill 2024.

However employment of teachers was listed among the key priority areas and the budget was reintroduced through a supplementary budget.

TSC now awaits the MPs who are on recession to resume house business and approve the supplementary budget so it can commence recruitment.

TSC will also confirm to permanent terms a total of 46,000 intern teachers currently on its payroll.

This is after it was allocated sh18.9 billion funds for the confirmation of the teachers through the 2024 – 2025 supplementary budget.

The employment of new teachers and confirmation of the interns will be financed through budget cuts from other government agencies’ vote heads.

TSC has on its payroll a total of 46,000 teachers serving on internship terms.

These are 21,550 junior school and 4,000 primary school intern teachers recruited in February 2023.

450 secondary school intern teachers recruited in April 2023. 18,000 junior school and 2,000 primary school intern teachers recruited in September 2023.

The Teacher Internship Programme is a one year programme meant to equip and sustain competencies of persons entering the teaching service.

The programme targets unemployed registered teachers to be assigned to learning institutions where their teaching experience will be enhanced through mentorship, coaching and exposure to practical teaching experience.

Application for TSC internship shall strictly be done online.

To be eligible to serve as intern in primary school one must be a holder of a PTE or DPTE certificate and is registered with TSC.

Those in junior school must have at least a Diploma and C+ in KCSE with C+ in two teaching subjects. They must also be registered with TSC.

During verification/ interviews, applicants shall be required to produce the following: –

i) A copy of Teacher Registration Certificate/print-out from TSC online portal as evidence of registration as a teacher;

ii) A copy of National Council for Persons with Disability (NCPWD) card (where applicable);

iii) A copy of the National Identity Card (ID) or Passport;

iv) Two (2) colour passport size photographs;

v) A copy of National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) card;

vi) A copy of Kenya Revenue Authority Personal Identification Number (KRA PIN).

Interns attached to primary schools will earn a monthly stipend of sh 15,000 while those in junior school will get sh 20,000.

On successful completion of the Internship Programme, teacher interns will be awarded an internship certificate.