Windfall as JSS teachers, other interns receive TSC employment letters

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has finally confirmed to permanent and pensionable (pnp) terms a total of 46,000 teachers who were serving on internship terms.

The Commission has printed employment and appointment letters for the teachers which show that they will now be working on pnp starting January 2025.

In many sub counties primary headteachers who are also acting junior secondary school (JSS) principals, were called to pick the letters at the TSC sub county offices.

A number of intern teachers have confirmed receiving the employment letters after serving for more than a year on contract.

This is the largest conversion to ever happen to intern teachers. Thanks to president William Ruto with his Kenya Kwanza government agenda that now boosts of employing 56,000 teachers on pnp since 2022.

TSC had on its payroll a total of 46,000 teachers who were serving on internship terms.

These were 21,550 junior school and 4,000 primary school intern teachers who were 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.

During supervision of KCSE 2024 exams, TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia had revealed that confirmation of the intern teachers to pnp was nearing completion.

“I wish to confirm that we are at the tail end of completing conversion of the 46,000 intern teachers some of whom have served for two years,” said Macharia while flanked by PS Belio Kipsang and other education stakeholders.

The teachers have now been issued with employment and appointment letters to start working on permanent terms in January 2025 when schools reopen for first term.

Besides better salaries the teachers will also have a comprehensive medical cover, entitlement to leaves and loans among other benefits.

A primary school teacher will earn a net salary of sh 32,000 after statutory deductions while a graduate secondary school teacher including those in junior secondary will earn sh 47,000 in net pay.

Previously an intern teacher attached to primary school used to earn sh 13,000 per month while those in secondary got sh 17,000 after SHIF, NSSF and House Levy deductions.

TSC had advertised a total of 46,000 teaching jobs on permanent terms in October where 6,000 posts were for primary schools, 39, 550 posts for junior schools and 450 posts for secondary schools.

Around 314,000 teachers including non-interns applied for the jobs. However from the recruitment scoresheet it released, the Commission elevated all intern teachers and secured their employment to permanent terms.

TSC awarded 50 marks to serving intern teachers in primary, junior and secondary schools.

In the scoresheet the lowest serving intern teacher in junior secondary scooped a maximum of 62 marks while the lowest non-intern teacher scored a maximum of 45 marks.

TSC has previously stated that teachers will only be recruited to permanent terms after going through the internship process.

TSC is currently recruiting additional 20,000 teachers on internship terms to support learning in junior secondary in January next year.