TSC Sub-County Directors to Begin Replacing JSS Intern Teachers

TSC Sub-County Directors to Begin Replacing JSS Intern Teachers

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is preparing to replace junior secondary school (JSS) intern teachers.

Sub-county directors of the TSC will kick off the replacement process using the current merit lists.

A total of 1,645 JSS intern teachers have secured permanent and pensionable positions in secondary schools following the TSC’s announcement of replacement opportunities.

These intern teachers were among the 20,000 JSS interns hired and assigned to schools in January for a one-year internship.

They successfully obtained replacement teaching positions in secondary schools after 5,862 replacement slots were made available to fill vacancies created by natural attrition.

The Commission has already issued appointment letters to these teachers, who have reported to their new assignments.

The TSC conducted a vetting process from February 17 to 28, 2025, which included document verification for shortlisted candidates.

Those selected completed employment forms and received their posting letters. They also registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA) by signing into https://afyayangu.go.ke before starting their new roles.

The replacements are on permanent and pensionable terms, with TSC announcing 5,862 positions for primary schools, 21 for junior schools, and 2,824 for secondary schools.

Interns were awarded 50 marks on the replacement scoresheet, regardless of their service duration.

Additionally, TSC has been allocated funds for the 2025-2026 financial year to recruit 18,000 JSS intern teachers, with recruitment expected to begin in November.

TSC has also received extra funding to hire 18,000 teachers on permanent and pensionable terms for primary and post-primary institutions.

Facing a significant teacher shortage, TSC currently needs 72,422 teachers to resolve the staffing crisis in JSS.

TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia stated that a total of 149,350 teachers are needed to effectively manage Grades 7, 8, and 9.

Currently, TSC has employed 76,928 teachers in junior secondary, which accounts for 51.5% of the required staff.

This includes the 20,000 JSS interns, 39,550 JSS teachers initially hired on internship terms who have since been confirmed, 8,378 P1 teachers assigned to JSS in 2023 and 2024, and 9,000 JSS teachers hired on permanent and pensionable terms.

Macharia noted that TSC has retrained a total of 229,292 teachers on the CBC and CBA since April 2019, with 60,642 JSS teachers retrained from May 2023 to November 2024.

To further address the teacher shortage, TSC plans to deploy 6,000 PTE teachers to JSS in April.

The Teacher Internship Programme is a one-year initiative designed to develop and maintain the competencies of individuals entering the teaching profession.

The programme targets unemployed registered teachers to be assigned to learning institutions where their teaching experience will be enhanced through mentorship, coaching and exposure to practical teaching experience.

The internship period will be for twelve months though majority of the recent intern teachers have served for two years.

Teacher internship is not a remunerative engagement. However, interns attached to Junior Secondary schools will be eligible for a monthly stipend of Kshs. 20,000/=.

The stipend will be paid subject to statutory deductions like NHIF, Housing levy, and NSSF where applicable.

On successful completion of the Internship Programme, teacher interns will be awarded a certificate.

To be eligible to serve as intern in primary school one must be a holder of a PTE or DPTE certificate and is registered with TSC.

Those in junior school must have at least a Diploma and C+ in KCSE with C+ in two teaching subjects. They must also be registered with TSC.

During verification/ interviews, applicants shall be required to produce the following: –

i) A copy of Teacher Registration Certificate/print-out from TSC online portal as evidence of registration as a teacher;

ii) A copy of National Council for Persons with Disability (NCPWD) card (where applicable);

iii) A copy of the National Identity Card (ID) or Passport;

iv) Two (2) colour passport size photographs;

v) A copy of National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) card;

vi) A copy of Kenya Revenue Authority Personal Identification Number (KRA PIN).

Interns attached to primary schools will earn a monthly stipend of sh 15,000 while those in junior school will get sh 20,000.

On successful completion of the Internship Programme, teacher interns will be awarded an internship certificate.