The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has directed school administrators to initiate the renewal of internship contracts for primary and secondary school intern teachers. The extension offer is available to those teachers opting to extend their contracts from January 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025.
As part of the instructions, interested individuals must furnish their details using an attached template. Moreover, they are mandated to submit a copy of personal accident cover for the specified engagement period to the TSC Sub-County Director by December 7, 2023, at 4:00 pm.
Other documents required include agreement letter, letter of appointment, offer of extension of internship contract and engagement letter.
This directive is in response to protests from junior secondary school (JSS) intern teachers opposing the contract renewal. These teacher interns advocate for a shift to permanent and pensionable terms, asserting that a one-year internship is sufficient.
Dr. Nancy Macharia, the TSC CEO, clarified that contract renewals for current intern teachers would occur in January 2024. The earliest absorption into permanent and pensionable terms would be in 2025. However, due to budget constraints, the conversion of the existing 46,000 intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms is ruled out. Dr. Macharia emphasized that the conversion would be automatic after two years of service, with terms varying based on the recruitment month.
In a bid to support Grade 8 classes, TSC plans to recruit an additional 20,000 intern teachers in January. While interns in primary schools receive a monthly stipend of Kshs. 15,000 and those in secondary schools receive Kshs. 20,000, there are protests and demonstrations from JSS intern teachers opposing the extension of internship contracts for another year.
The interns are pushing for permanent employment terms after a year of service, and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (Kuppet) has threatened industrial action in January if TSC fails to convert the teachers to permanent and pensionable terms. Willing interns are required to submit details to their respective heads for contract renewal.