A total of 46,000 intern teachers who were confirmed on permanent and pensionable (pnp) terms in January this year have now completed their probation.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has now confirmed the teachers to pnp employment after completing their six months probation inline with TSC regulations.
Their probation started in January immediately after they were converted from internship to pnp employment.
Their conversion from internship to pnp employment did however not come in a silver platter.
This especially after the junior secondary school (JSS) intern teachers engaged in a nationwide strike to push the government to confirm them.
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 76,000 teachers since 2022.
Until December 2024 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.
The teachers were issued with employment and appointment letters to start working on permanent terms in January 2025 when schools reopened for first term.
Besides better salaries the teachers are now eligible for a comprehensive medical cover, entitlement to leaves and loans among other benefits.
A primary school teacher now earn a net salary of sh 32,000 after statutory deductions while a graduate secondary school teacher including those in junior secondary earn upto sh 49,000 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 2024 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 recruited 20,000 teachers on internship terms in January this year to support learning in junior secondary.
The Commission will convert the teachers on pnp terms at end of this year. The teachers will only be required to present their ID card during vetting exercise.
Below is how the 20,000 JSS intern teachers are distributed countrywide per county.
DISTRIBUTION OF 20,00 JSS INTERN TEACHERS PER COUNTY
Baringo…………………….384.
Marsabit……138
Bomet………………………523.
Meru…………669
Bungoma………………….782.
Migori……….552
Busia……………………….426.
Mombasa….145
Elgeyo Marakwet………312.
Murang’a……503
Embu………………………315.
Nairobi………566
Garissa…………………….114.
Nakuru………799
Homa Bay……………….634.
Nandi………..567
Isiolo………………………81.
Narok………..616
Kajiado…………………..347.
Nyamira…….347
Kakamega………………962.
Nyandarua….316
Kericho…………………..477.
Nyeri…………..354
Kiambu………………….548.
Samburu……..100
Kilifi……………………….548.
Siaya……………518
Kirinyaga………………..214.
Taita Taveta…182
Kisii……………………….647.
Tana River……121
Kisumu…………………..509.
Tharaka Nithi..323
Kitui………………………947.
Transnzoia……323
Kwale……………………341.
Turkana……….220
Laikipia…………………221.
Uasin Gishu….443
Lamu……………………90.
Vihiga…………..334
Machakos…………….684.
Wajir…………….149
Makueni……………….688.
West pokot……399
Mandera……………….178
