Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers have threatened to withhold classroom services when schools reopen on 27 April unless the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) moves ahead with intern teachers confirmation to permanent and pensionable terms. About 44,000 junior school teachers are affected, and the dispute follows court rulings that found the internship scheme unlawful for fully trained and registered teachers.
Key Takeaways
- Approximately 44,000 JSS teachers were hired on internship contracts; many demand conversion to permanent and pensionable terms.
- A Court of Appeal and the Employment and Labour Relations Court have declared the internship policy illegal when applied to trained teachers.
- The government has Sh6 billion available and is seeking an additional Sh23 billion to confirm a portion of the interns this year.
- TSC plans to convert 20,000 interns to permanent terms and recruit 16,000 more teachers to address shortages caused by the CBE rollout.
Why intern teachers confirmation is needed
The courts found that calling fully trained and registered teachers “interns” is discriminatory when the internship scheme is not limited to trainee teachers. As a result, many teachers have filed suits seeking regular employment and compensation for time served under internship conditions. The ruling obliges the government and TSC to consider converting affected staff to permanent and pensionable (P&P) terms rather than renewing short-term contracts.
Numbers, funding and government response
There are two main groups involved: 20,000 teachers who were initially hired on a one-year internship (renewed into 2026) and a further 24,000 hired for 2026. Officials say the state currently has Sh6 billion available to begin confirmations and is seeking about Sh23 billion more to complete the exercise. Education leaders say confirmations will proceed in phases depending on available resources.
Impact on staffing and the CBE transition
TSC and the Ministry of Education argue that the internship programme improved staffing, reducing the teacher-to-student ratio from roughly 1:45 to 1:29. Confirming interns and recruiting another 16,000 teachers are part of a strategy to reach the recommended 1:25 ratio and support the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system. The Ministry also highlights retooling efforts: more than 220,000 teachers have received training for CBE, especially in technical subjects.
What this means for schools and learners
If intern teachers withhold services when term starts, some schools could face immediate teacher shortages, larger class sizes, and interrupted lessons. However, the proposed phased confirmation and planned recruitment aim to stabilise staffing over the medium term. Parents and school managers should expect short-term disruption but keep in mind the planned steps toward permanent employment and more hires.
Practical steps for teachers, headteachers and parents
- Teachers: Keep documentation of contracts and court notices. Follow union guidance and official communication from TSC about the confirmation timetable.
- Headteachers: Prepare contingency lesson plans and consider temporary staff cover. Use available CBE teaching resources to support multi-grade or larger classes.
- Parents: Stay informed through school boards and local education offices, and support learners with home study while classes stabilise.
Resources for classroom continuity and CBE planning
Teachers and school leaders can use free curriculum and lesson resources to reduce disruption and support CBE-aligned teaching. Useful materials include JSS curriculum designs to align schemes of work, CBC lesson plans for everyday classroom activities, and JSS teaching notes for subject guidance and practical tips.
Expected timeline and next steps
Officials have indicated discussions with the National Treasury and TSC are ongoing to agree on a phased confirmation schedule. Some interns are expected to return to work while awaiting confirmation later in the year; others may press for immediate conversion. Stakeholders should monitor official TSC announcements for precise timelines and funding decisions.
Bottom line
The court rulings and subsequent government responses make conversion to permanent terms likely, but the process depends on funding and a phased plan. In the short term, schools should prepare for possible staff gaps and use available CBE resources to keep learning on track while teachers and the TSC work toward a legal and sustainable solution.
