Teachers employed by Teachers Service Commission (TSC) could soon see their monthly stipend double.
This is after a proposal was raised in Senate to have the minimum TSC monthly stipend for the intern teachers raised from the current sh. 15,000 to sh. 30,000.
Nandi Senator, Samson Cherargei, expressed shock at the amount TSC pays its intern teachers as stipend.
“How do you give an intern teacher sh. 15,000 as a stipend? That is why they are being misused. I propose we increase the amount from the current sh. 15,000 to sh. 30,000,” said Cherargei.
Should this sail through it will go a long way in addressing the interns financial challenges.
The TSC 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.
The internship period is usually twelve months though previously some intern teachers served for two years after their contracts were renewed.
Teacher internship is not a remunerative engagement. However, interns attached to Primay School are eligible for a monthly stipend of Kshs. 15,000 while those attached in Junior Secondary schools are eligible for a monthly stipend of Kshs. 20 ,000/=.
The stipend paid is subject to statutory deductions like SHIF, Housing levy, and NSSF where applicable.
On successful completion of the Internship Programme, teacher interns are awarded certificates.
TSC also awards 50 marks to teachers who serve on internship terms during pnp recruitment thus making conversion to pnp automatic for serving interns.
Currently TSC is in a process to post a total of 24,000 intern teachers to junior schools in January 2026.
This was revealed by Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba during World Teachers’ Day celebrations on 6th October, at the Moi International Sports Centre Nairobi.
Ogamba said the new recruitment will push the number of teachers hired over the past three years to 100,000, marking a major milestone in the government’s education reforms.
“Seventy-six thousand teachers have already been employed, and 24,000 more will be employed by January 2026,” he said.
The application exercise was already completed and the teachers are awaiting document verification exercise before they can be deployed to schools.
TSC will start document verification exercise in December which will culminate to signing of internship contracts followed by deployment to junior schools.
The CS further noted that more recruitment will be made next year to equip junior schools with enough teachers.
“An additional 16,000 will follow later in the year, as we continue bridging the teacher shortage that has challenged our education system for years.”
CS Migos also noted that the government allocated Ksh.950 million to the TSC for retooling programs that equip teachers with new skills under Competency Based Education (CBE).
TSC Chairperson, Jamleck Muturi, said the recruitment process for the 24,000 new teachers has been digitized to enhance efficiency and transparency.
“Registration of teachers has been automated, and recruitment is now fully online,” Dr. Muturi said. “By January, 24,000 teachers will be in class.”
“Over 300,000 teachers have already been retooled, and the government will finalize the last cohort in December,” he added.
The new employment drive comes as the Ministry of Education and the TSC continue implementing reforms aimed at improving teacher capacity, digital integration, and curriculum delivery in line with Kenya’s education transformation agenda.
TSC received over a hundred thousands applications after it advertised the 24,000 junior school teaching slots.
Their employment is on a one year internship basis starting from 1st January to 31st December 2026.
Shortlisted teachers shall be required to present originals and clear photocopies of the following documents during verification exercise;
1) National identification card (ID)
2) Certificate of Registration as a teacher
3) Diploma or Degree certificate and official transcript
4) KCSE certificate or its equivalent (include certificates for attempts if one re-sat exams)
5) KCPE certificate or its equivalent (include certificates for attempts if one re-sat exams)
6) Primary and secondary school leaving certificates and other relevant testimonials
7) National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) Card (where applicable)
8) An affidavit sworn under the Oaths and Statutory Declarations Act. Cap 15 of the Laws of Kenya to explain the variance in names
9) Letter of certification of results by KNEC (where applicable)
