In what is seen as a huge boost to the education sector, approximately 26,000 Junior Secondary School JSS intern teachers will be hired on permanent and pensionable terms starting July 1, 2024. This follows the Kenyan Parliament’s allocation of Sh8.3 billion for their employment, a decision that reverses the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) initial plan to hire these interns starting January 1, 2025.
The National Assembly’s Committee on Education, chaired by Julius Melly, has directed the TSC to streamline the recruitment process and ensure efficient utilization of allocated resources. Speaking to the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC), Melly emphasized the need for the TSC to begin the employment process in July 2024, adhering to the new budgetary provisions.
“Beginning the next financial year, the Teachers Service Commission should streamline the recruitment process to ensure that resources assigned to this function are fully utilised,” Melly stated during the budget defense for the Ministry of Education for the financial year 2024/25. He also highlighted the committee’s requirement for the TSC to assess staffing needs across all basic learning institutions within six months, ensuring optimal resource allocation for the future.
Furthermore, the committee outlined the necessity for an additional Sh4.68 billion to recruit 20,000 more intern teachers in the upcoming financial year. This is part of a broader strategy to enhance the staffing of educational institutions nationwide, addressing long-standing teacher shortages.
The transition of 26,000 intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms marks a critical milestone in Kenya’s educational reforms, promising stability and improved morale among educators. This decision reflects a strategic investment in the country’s educational infrastructure, aimed at fostering better learning environments and supporting the professional development of teachers.
This move is expected to have a positive impact on the quality of education in Kenya, ensuring that schools are adequately staffed and that teachers have job security. The JSS teachers have been holding demonstrations for past few weeks, seeking government’s attention to hire them on permanent basis and increase their pay.
