The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has officially confirmed 46,000 teachers who have completed their probation period. These teachers, who were transitioned to permanent and pensionable (pnp) positions in January of this year, have successfully finished their six-month probation as per TSC regulations.
Their probation commenced in January, right after they were moved from internship to pnp employment. However, this transition was not without challenges, particularly for junior secondary school (JSS) intern teachers who participated in a nationwide strike to demand their confirmation from the government.
This marks the largest conversion of intern teachers to permanent positions, facilitated by President William Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza government’s initiative, which has resulted in the hiring of 76,000 teachers since 2022.
As of December 2024, TSC had 46,000 teachers on its payroll serving under internship terms, including 21,550 junior school and 4,000 primary school intern teachers recruited in February 2023, along with 450 secondary school intern teachers hired in April 2023, and 18,000 junior school and 2,000 primary school intern teachers recruited in September 2023.
These teachers received employment and appointment letters to commence permanent positions in January 2025, coinciding with the start of the first term. In addition to improved salaries, these teachers are now entitled to comprehensive medical coverage, leave, loans, and other benefits.
A primary school teacher’s net salary is now sh 32,000 after deductions, while graduate secondary school teachers, including those in junior secondary, can earn up to sh 49,000. Previously, primary school intern teachers earned sh 13,000 per month, while secondary school interns received sh 17,000 after deductions for SHIF, NSSF, and housing levies.
In October 2024, TSC advertised 46,000 permanent teaching positions, with 6,000 for primary schools, 39,550 for junior schools, and 450 for secondary schools. Approximately 314,000 teachers, including non-interns, applied for these positions. However, the Commission prioritized the employment of all intern teachers, granting them permanent status based on their performance.
Intern teachers in primary, junior, and secondary schools were awarded 50 marks in the recruitment process. The lowest-scoring intern teacher in junior secondary achieved 62 marks, while the lowest non-intern teacher scored 45 marks. TSC has previously indicated that only teachers who have gone through the internship process will be considered for permanent positions.
In January of this year, TSC recruited 20,000 teachers on internship terms to support learning in junior secondary, with plans to convert them to pnp status by the end of the year. During the vetting process, these teachers will only need to present their ID cards.
The distribution of the 20,000 JSS intern teachers across various counties is as follows:
– Baringo: 384
– Marsabit: 138
– Bomet: 523
– Meru: 669
– Bungoma: 782
– Migori: 552
– Busia: 426
– Mombasa: 145
– Elgeyo Marakwet: 312
– Murang’a: 503
– Embu: 315
– Nairobi: 566
– Garissa: 114
– Nakuru: 799
– Homa Bay: 634
– Nandi: 567
– Isiolo: 81
– Narok: 616
– Kajiado: 347
– Nyamira: 347
– Kakamega: 962
– Nyandarua: 316
– Kericho: 477
– Nyeri: 354
– Kiambu: 548
– Samburu: 100
– Kilifi: 548
– Siaya: 518
– Kirinyaga: 214
– Taita Taveta: 182
– Kisii: 647
– Tana River: 121
– Kisumu: 509
– Tharaka Nithi: 323
– Kitui: 947
– Transnzoia: 323
– Kwale: 341
– Turkana: 220
– Laikipia: 221
– Uasin Gishu: 443
– Lamu: 90
– Vihiga: 334
– Machakos: 684
– Wajir: 149
– Makueni: 688
– West Pokot: 399
– Mandera: 178
