Senators demand permanent jobs for 20,000 junior secondary intern teachers
Senators have called for an immediate policy review to guarantee that deserving teachers are not forced into prolonged temporary roles.
A group of senators has pressed the government to guarantee permanent and pensionable jobs for junior secondary school intern teachers once their one-year internship concludes, calling the current system unfair and unsustainable.
Senators said the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) internship programme requires urgent review to protect the rights of qualified teachers from being trapped in indefinite temporary contracts.
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The push follows Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba’s announcement in Parliament that the 20,000 teachers currently serving in junior secondary schools will not automatically receive permanent contracts after completing their internships.
Instead, their continuation depends on renewed contracts in 2026, contingent on additional Treasury funding.
Speaking after receiving a petition from intern teachers in Kirinyaga, Murang’a Senator James Murango urged the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury to ensure that the interns are given permanent positions.
“Any attempt to backtrack on the promise and subject the 20,000 teachers to another year of internship would go against Article 41 of the Constitution regarding fair labour practices,” he said.
Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu added that the modest stipend offered to interns fails to meet even their basic needs, leaving many demoralised.
He described the practice of retaining teachers as interns despite meeting professional and academic standards as exploitative.
“These teachers are qualified graduates who meet all the professional and academic standards required by the Teachers Service Commission, and they should therefore be confirmed in permanent positions,” Nyutu said.
Ogamba’s position contrasts sharply with that of Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, who had previously assured the public that all intern teachers would transition to permanent and pensionable employment by January 2026.
CS Mbadi said the government had already allocated Sh5.4 billion for this purpose, as promised by President William Ruto.
The conflicting statements have created uncertainty among interns whose contracts end in December 2025.
Senators have called for an immediate policy review to guarantee that deserving teachers are not forced into prolonged temporary roles.
They also indicated that a formal inquiry into the TSC internship programme is forthcoming to examine its legality and fairness.
This debate underscores wider concerns about temporary employment in Kenya’s education sector and raises questions about the government’s commitment to ensuring secure and fair terms for newly trained teachers.
Senators are emphasising the need to uphold the rights of qualified teachers and to provide clarity on their employment status as the year comes to a close.
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