TSC to Pay 20,000 JSS Intern Stipends Next Month.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will begin paying salaries in February to the 20,000 teachers recently recruited on a one-year internship term for junior secondary schools (JSS). The delay in payments was attributed to late submission of casualty returns for most teachers who reported to schools on January 6th.
Simultaneously, the TSC is processing the integration of 46,000 teachers who transitioned from internship to permanent and pensionable (PnP) terms in January. These teachers are set to receive enhanced salaries, including leave allowances, as the January payroll has already been closed.
Delays in the submission of online casualty returns by school heads of institutions (HOIs) have been identified as a key factor affecting timely salary processing. TSC continues to emphasize the importance of timely submissions to ensure smooth payroll operations for teachers.
Most JSS interns, particularly those specializing in science subjects, are scheduled for training in February. The training will focus on the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and Competency-Based Assessments (CBA) to align teaching methodologies with current educational standards.
Teacher Shortage and Staffing Requirements
TSC faces a significant staffing shortage in junior secondary schools. Currently, there is a deficit of 72,422 teachers, with 149,350 teachers required to adequately manage Grades 7, 8, and 9. As of now, 76,928 teachers are employed in JSS, representing 51.5% of the requirement. The breakdown includes:
| Category | Number of Teachers |
|---|---|
| JSS Interns | 20,000 |
| Confirmed Internship Teachers | 39,550 |
| Deployed P1 Teachers | 8,378 |
| Permanent JSS Teachers | 9,000 |
To mitigate the shortage, TSC plans to deploy 6,000 Primary Teacher Education (PTE) teachers to JSS in April.
Since April 2019, TSC has retooled a total of 229,292 teachers on CBC and CBA. From May 2023 to November 2024, 60,642 JSS teachers received training to enhance their competencies. Despite these efforts, the teacher-to-class ratio remains critical, at 1:1, necessitating further interventions.
Teacher Internship Programme Overview
The Teacher Internship Programme is a one-year initiative designed to enhance the skills of unemployed registered teachers. During this period, interns gain practical teaching experience through mentorship, coaching, and classroom exposure. Though initially planned for 12 months, many interns have served for two years.
Read Also: Academic Calendar Updates: Ministry of Education February Half-Term Break for Schools
Intern teachers in JSS receive a monthly stipend of Ksh 20,000, subject to statutory deductions such as NHIF, Housing Levy, and NSSF. Upon successful completion of the programme, interns are awarded a certificate.
In the 2023 recruitment cycle for 46,000 permanent and pensionable teachers, TSC allocated 50 marks to teachers who served as interns, effectively ensuring their transition to PnP terms. Additionally, TSC advertised 8,707 replacement positions in December, allowing intern teachers to apply for these roles.
TSC to Pay 20,000 JSS Intern Stipends Next Month.
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