The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has been allocated a total of sh 17.6 billion for converting 46,000 intern teachers into permanent and pensionable terms (PNP).
In the latest revised budget led by the Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, TSC has also been allocated sh 11.9 billion which will be used for teachers’ medical cover and sh 10 billion for implementing teachers second phase Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The Commission has been spared of budget cuts which would cripple its operations. TSC has on its payroll a total of 46,000 teachers serving on internship terms.
These are 21,550 junior and 4,000 primary school intern teachers recruited in February 2023. 450 secondary school intern teachers recruited in April 2023. 18,000 junior and 2,000 primary school intern teachers recruited in September 2023.
Initially while appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee, TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia said for lack of funds following budget cuts by the national treasury it had postponed the confirmation of the teachers to January 2024.
However this is now solved and TSC will convert the teachers into PNP terms as early as August this year.
In a report tabled by Peter Masara, a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, employment of junior school intern teachers was listed as a critical area.
“The members of the public requested that the National Assembly ringfence the allocation for JSS as proposed by the TSC. The committee notes the concern by the public and is committed to enhancing the current allocation for hiring JSS intern teachers in FY 2024/25,” he said.
The Commission will also receive an additional Sh29.5 billion for teacher resource management.
Already the government has availed funds for confirming intern doctors into permanent terms.
The Commission already concluded the process of reinstating 742 junior school intern teachers who appeared before the TSC disciplinary panels.
All intern teachers who were issued with termination of contract letters but appeared before these panels will be reinstated and get confirmed to PNP.
TSC is also planning to recruit 20,000 intern teachers in October this year. Of these 18,000 will be for junior school while 2,000 for primary schools.
TSC has also started the process of deploying at least 26,000 serving P1 teachers to junior school ahead of grade 9 launch next year.
