The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has approved a 12-month TSC internship extension for all serving Junior School Teacher Interns, effective from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026. Interns will stay at their current stations but must formally accept the extension and meet a few administrative requirements to avoid disruption to learning when current contracts lapse on 31 December 2025.
Key Takeaways
- TSC internship extension runs from 1 Jan 2026 to 31 Dec 2026 for all serving JSS interns.
- Counties must issue extension offers to interns by 20 December 2025.
- Interns accepting must sign the offer and submit a valid Personal Accident Cover for the engagement period.
- Counties must update responses in the Entry/Exit Portal and submit compiled lists to Director Staffing by 23 January 2026.
What the extension means for Junior School Teacher Interns
The extension allows all current Junior School Teacher Interns to continue teaching for an additional year. Interns remain in their current posts unless otherwise instructed. This measure aims to ensure stability in classrooms and avoid interruptions when the current internship contracts end on 31 December 2025.
County director responsibilities
County directors must lead and coordinate the extension process. Key duties include:
- Issuing the official Extension Offer to every serving intern in the county no later than 20 December 2025.
- Collecting each intern’s signed response (acceptance or decline) and ensuring proper clearance for those who decline.
- Updating the acceptance/decline status for each intern in the Entry/Exit Portal.
- Compiling and submitting the lists of interns, signed offer letters and a county summary to Director Staffing via email (dirstaffing@tsc.go.ke) and copying ddstaffing@tsc.go.ke by 23 January 2026.
- Proposing replacements (from existing merit lists) for any intern who declines, submitted together with the county summary for Commission approval.
Steps interns must follow
Each intern must respond to the extension offer. The required steps depend on the choice:
- If accepting: sign the acceptance section of the offer and submit a valid Personal Accident Cover that covers the new contract period.
- If declining: sign the decline section of the offer, hand over any institutional property in your custody, and clear with the Head of Institution.
Interns who accept should ensure their documents are submitted promptly to avoid any gap in engagement and reporting requirements for January 2026.
Reporting and replacement process
Counties must submit a clear record of acceptances and declines to the Commission. For any intern who declines, counties should identify replacements using the existing merit lists and include these proposals with the county submissions to the Director Staffing. The Commission will review and approve any replacements before engagement.
Practical tips for interns and heads of institution
- Keep copies of your signed offer, acceptance/decline form and proof of Personal Accident Cover.
- Confirm that the Entry/Exit Portal status matches your signed response; contact your county office if there is a discrepancy.
- Heads of institution should prepare clearance checklists to speed up handovers if an intern declines.
- Check available JSS teaching resources and curriculum guides to plan for the year ahead—use the JSS curriculum designs page for materials and lesson planning support.
Additional resources for teachers
Teachers preparing for the extended engagement can strengthen classroom practice and lesson planning with targeted resources:
- Find teaching notes and CBC-aligned materials on the CBC teaching notes page to support daily lessons and competency-based activities.
- Early-career teachers and interns can access training and exam practice through Diploma in Education past papers to support continuous professional development.
- For exam preparation resources that align with classroom assessment, visit the free CBC exams collection.
Summary
The TSC internship extension secures an additional year of service for Junior School Teacher Interns from 1 January to 31 December 2026. County directors must issue offers by 20 December 2025, collect responses, update the Entry/Exit Portal, and submit compiled lists to Director Staffing by 23 January 2026. Interns accepting the extension must sign the offer and provide a valid Personal Accident Cover. Those declining must clear with their institutions to ensure orderly handovers and allow counties to propose replacements from merit lists.
