Wamuzi News Ke
The government has announced that 20,000 intern teachers will be transitioned into permanent and pensionable terms beginning January 2026, in what is being hailed as a long-overdue step towards addressing the severe teacher shortage in the country’s junior secondary schools.
The confirmation follows months of growing pressure from education stakeholders and unions who have decried the prolonged exploitation of intern teachers under temporary contracts, despite their vital role in implementing the Competency-Based Curriculum.Currently, public schools are grappling with a shortfall of more than 90,000 teachers.
Interns, many of whom have served for over a year under minimal stipends, have been instrumental in bridging this gap—often without the benefits, job security, or pay scales accorded to permanent staff.The decision to absorb the interns permanently comes amid mounting concerns over the quality of education and the government’s commitment to fulfilling promises made during recent education reforms.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has already issued a roadmap for the transition, pending budgetary approvals.While the news has been received positively by the teaching fraternity, questions remain over how the government intends to finance the conversion, given that no specific allocation for this initiative was included in the current budget.
Legislators are now calling for a supplementary allocation to ensure the plan is implemented without delays or legal obstacles.Union leaders have welcomed the move but have warned against any postponement, arguing that failure to confirm the interns would further demoralize an already strained workforce.
They insist that converting the contracts into permanent roles is not just a matter of policy—it’s a legal and moral obligation.With schools set to resume the next academic term in a few weeks, all eyes are on the TSC and the National Treasury to fulfill the promise.
If successful, this move could mark a turning point in the government’s efforts to stabilize the education sector and restore confidence among teachers and learners alike.But if delayed, it could spark unrest and further cripple a system already stretched to the brink.
