The junior secondary school (JSS) intern teachers have vehemently opposed a plan by government to extend their contract for another one year.
The 20,000 JSS intern teachers who were employed in November last year and posted to schools early January are planning industrial action starting January to force their confirmation to permanent and pensionable (pnp) terms.
This comes shortly after a revelation by President William Ruto that the teachers will be converted to pnp only after serving a two year contract.
Ruto who was speaking from Kitui when he had a live interview at Kitui State Lodge, noted that serving for two year internship is mandatory before the conversion.
“I want to assure every intern teacher in Kenya that they will be absorbed into permanent and pensionable terms when the time comes. However, they will first serve on two year contracts before their absorption,” Ruto said.
Their internship contract which started on 1st January will end on 31st December 2025.
The Kenya Junior School Teachers Association (KEJUSTA) have previously stated that the teachers will not sign another contract.
The union has initiated legal action against the Commission for violating labour laws.
In 2023 the Kenya Kwanza government adopted a policy that make it mandatory for interns to serve for two years in all government departments.
This was to give it time to put its finances in order. However the government is still riddled in debts and currently facing cash crunch.
Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Ogamba recently indicated that the government will extend the junior school intern teachers contracts.
Speaking while appearing before the National Assembly on 5th November to answer questions touching on education matters, Ogamba said that converting the teachers to permanent and pensionable terms is currently a tall order for the government.
The CS said this can only happen if funds are availed for the exercise. He revealed that the Ministry currently has no budget for the exercise.
“There is a program of interns whose contract is coming to an end in December 2025, and one of the available options we have unless we get resources from the National Treasury for us to be able to confirm them is to extend their contract,” said CS Ogamba.
His sentiments however and that of the President contradict that of Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi who stated that the teachers will be confirmed in January 2026.
In an interview in a local radio station, Mayienga FM, broadcasting in Luo language on 5th November, the CS said that the teachers conversion to permanent and pensionable terms is a top priority for the government .
Mbadi assured the teachers of confirmation to pnp come January 2026. He said Treasury will allocate sh. 5.4 billion funds for the exercise stating its a done deal.
The junior school teachers were recruited in November and posted to schools in January this year on a one year internship contract.
They are currently earning a monthly stipend of sh 20,000. However they take home around sh. 17,000 after SHIF, Housing levy and NSSF deductions
Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna, expressed shock on the salaries the teachers earn each month.
“Junior secondary school teachers are earning a full time salary of Ksh. 17,000. Surviving in this city on Ksh, 17,000 is almost a miracle,” said Sifuna.
In 2024 a total of 39,550 junior school teachers had to push the government to confirm them to pnp terms after striking and carrying out countrywide demos.
TSC had on its payroll a total of 46,000 teachers who were then 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.
Some of the interns had renewed their contract and had served for two years but still confirmation was not on sight.
However through their national strike the teachers forced the government to convert them to pnp.
TSC absorbed them to pnp payroll in January 2025. After serving for six months as a requirement for probation the teachers payslips have now changed from prob. (probation) to pnp.
Besides better salaries the teachers also enjoy a comprehensive medical cover, entitlement to leaves and personal loans among other benefits.
The Education CS had earlier said additional 16,000 junior school intern teachers will be recruited in 2026.
Currently TSC is finalizing recruitment of 24,000 junior school intern teachers.
TSC Chairperson, Jamleck Muturi, while addressing primary school headteachers in Mombasa on Wednesday 12th November said the teachers will be posted to schools in January.
TSC will start document verification exercise for the teachers in December.
The teachers will be posted to schools in January to support the Competency Based Education (CBE).