The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) officials have finally addressed a concern surrounding payment of thousands of junior school intern teachers.
The Commission employed a total of 24,000 junior school intern teachers who were posted to schools early January.
The teachers were anticipating for payment of their stipend in February after they reported to schools in January and had their casualty (entry/exit report) submitted to TSC through online by their Heads of Institutions (HOI’s).
However only teachers in eight counties received their salaries in February which also lacked arrears for the days worked in January.
A junior school intern teacher earns a monthly stipend of sh 20,000 but receive around sh 18,000 after SHIF, Housing levy and NSSF deductions.
Majority of the intern teachers did not get their pay which has destabilized them deeply. The teachers raised their concern with the Commission including its officials at the counties.
The officials which include TSC County and Sub County Directors have assured the teachers stating that the Commission is aware and will pay all salaries with arrears in the March payroll.
They however did not reveal the reasons behind the delays despite submission of their details to the Commission on time.
A close source working at the TSC payroll department however revealed that the government is facing liquidity crisis which is affecting key short term monetary obligations.
The junior school intern teachers are not the only ones being affected by delays by government.
Teachers who were recently promoted as well as retired teachers waiting for pension are all grappling with non-payment by the state.
TSC closes its payroll on 15th day of each month to start processing salaries for teachers and its secretariat staff.
The intern teachers can wait for TSC to process their March salaries with January and February arrears.
The teachers who were received in junior schools hosted in primary schools, attended induction programmes organized by TSC.
The programme sensitized the teachers on various TSC legal policies including the code of regulations and code of conduct for teachers.
After induction the STEM and Language teachers will then be retooled by CEMASTEA on the Competency Based Education (CBE) and Competency Based Assessment (CBA).
The teachers were hired on a one year internship term running from 1st January to 31st December, 2026.
The teachers are likely to be converted to pnp in January 2028 after President Ruto said that all government interns including the TSC ones shall be serving for at least two years before they are confirmed on permanent and pensionable terms.
A total of 20,000 junior school interns employed in January 2025 had their contracts which ended on 31st December extended for another one year.
TSC is currently seeking sh. 7.2 billion in July budget for confirming the teachers on permanent and pensionable terms come January 2027.
The government has also announce its plan to employ additional 16,000 junior school intern teachers later this year.
The Commission has some benefits for teachers who accept to work as interns which include priotizing their employment when replacement vacancies arise.
TSC awards 50 marks to intern teachers during replacement interviews which boosts their employment prospects.