TSC to Hire 16,000 Intern Teachers as Replacement Plan Targets 5,000 Exits
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will recruit 16,000 teachers on internship terms this year in a move aimed at addressing staffing gaps in junior and senior schools.
The Commission has also announced plans to replace more than 5,000 teachers expected to exit its payroll by the end of 2026 through natural attrition.
The November Recruitment Drive
Recruitment for both the internship positions and replacement teachers is scheduled to begin in November.
According to TSC, the intern teachers will serve on a one-year contract running from January 1 to December 31, 2027.
The positions will mainly target junior and senior school levels, where demand for teachers continues to rise under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The recruitment drive comes as a major boost to the Commission following a ruling by the Supreme Court of Kenya, which reinstated the internship programme.
The court also suspended an earlier decision by the Court of Appeal of Kenya that had declared the programme illegal, pending further hearing.
TSC maintains that the internship programme, introduced in 2019, is part of the government’s broader strategy to create employment opportunities for young graduates.
“The programme aims to provide newly qualified teachers with hands-on teaching experience to improve their skills and enhance their competitiveness in the job market,” said TSC Acting CEO, Eveleen Mitei, in a press statement.
The Two-Year Policy and Confirmation Path
Currently, the Commission has about 44,000 teachers serving under internship terms.
This includes 20,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers recruited on January 1, 2025, for a one-year internship, whose contracts were later extended for another year running until December 31, 2026.
In addition, TSC recruited a further 24,000 JSS teachers in January this year on a one-year internship contract.
To support its staffing plans, TSC is seeking Sh7.2 billion in the July budget to confirm the 20,000 JSS interns into permanent and pensionable terms starting January 2027.
The Two-Year Policy and Confirmation Path
President William Ruto has previously stated that it is now government policy for all interns, including those under TSC, to serve for at least two years before being considered for permanent employment.
Primary School Surplus and the End of Mass Recruitment
Beyond internship recruitment, the Commission is also seeking Sh1.5 billion to facilitate the replacement of teachers exiting service in 2026.
These replacements are expected to largely benefit primary schools, although recruitment will remain limited.
According to Mitei, primary schools are currently experiencing a surplus of teachers following the transition of Grade 7 and 8 learners to junior secondary schools.
The shift has reduced the urgency for hiring additional primary school teachers, prompting TSC to suspend mass recruitment in the sector.
Instead, the Commission will only replace teachers who leave through natural attrition.
TSC has also advised Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) to halt the intake and training of primary school teachers due to the oversupply.
At the same time, the Commission highlighted a significant shortage of teachers in junior and senior secondary schools, driven by increasing student populations and curriculum demands.
As a result, TSC says it will continue prioritizing recruitment in these levels to ensure effective implementation of the CBC and improved learning outcomes across the country.
