It is a sigh of relief to graduate teachers following an affirmation by the Teachers Service Commission, TSC Chairman Jamleck Muturi that 20,000 internship posts for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) will be advertised in July. While addressing the 47th KESSHA Conference and Exhibition at the Sheikh Zayed Hall in Mombasa, Mr. Muturi revealed that the recruitment targets creativity to ensure a smooth transition of Grade 8 learners to Grade 9.
The shortlisting and interview process will be expedited to ensure that the new teachers report by September. This comes after the National Assembly Finance Committee Chair Kimani Kuria announced that the government would provide funding to help resolve teacher shortage facing JSS institutions.
The government has provided funds for the hiring of 20,000 interns next month, added Kuria, saying the policy is to transition them from internship to permanent and pensionable terms. It has further set aside KSh18.9 billion for confirming all the existing 46,000 intern teachers into permanent and pensionable terms.
The confirmation of the 46,000 interns follows a standoff involving the teachers and TSC over their employment status, which saw strikes, lay-offs, and a pending court case. It is however not clear where the funds for the new interns will be sourced once confirmed as announced by Muturi.