TSC TO HIRE 18,000 TEACHERS IN DECEMBER 2023
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) recently announced a new initiative to hire 18,000 new intern teachers for elementary and middle schools. This effort, planned to commence following the end of the Kenya National Examination KCSE, aims to position these instructors before the reopening of schools in January 2024.
In addition, the TSC intends to extend the contracts of current intern instructors, with extensions being granted automatically to those who choose to remain in the position.
Teachers in training who start their jobs in January must pay to keep their accident insurance active for another year. As of 2025, the TSC has promised these intern instructors full-time employment. However, this declaration has received pushback from a considerable number of intern instructors, who find the choice depressing.
The January-hired teaching interns expected to be officially approved at the end of their contracts in December 2023. The new TSC announcement has caused concern among the teaching community, as the Education Committee in Parliament had previously advised absorbing all 46,000 instructors employed on internship terms after two years.
Many intern teachers are discouraged by the low salary, which is especially discouraging given the rising cost of living. The minimum monthly salary for intern teachers in primary schools is Kshs. 15,000, whereas the minimum salary for intern teachers in secondary schools is Kshs.
However, with the new tax deductions in place, secondary school teachers see a drop of about sh.2500 and primary school teachers see a reduction of about sh.1500.