The Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission have defended the staffing, training and deployment of teachers in Junior Schools under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
The commission says the internship programme is meant to provide practical teaching experience and create job opportunities for unemployed youth, but does not guarantee automatic absorption into permanent and pensionable service.
It insists that all teachers assigned to the new level are professionally qualified despite concerns over understaffing, heavy workloads and low pay.
In a detailed response to questions from the Daily Nation , the Ministry acknowledged that the introduction of Junior School, which covers Grades 7, 8, and 9, significantly increased the demand for teachers across the country after the level was integrated into existing primary schools in 2023.
"The government has recruited 56,000 teachers on permanent and pensionable terms since the inception of Junior School, deployed 10,097 qualified primary school teachers to the new level, and is currently relying on 20,000 intern teachers , with an additional 24,000 set to report in January 2026," Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba told Daily Nation.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba at a past event.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation
The Commission further defended the deployment of teachers across multiple learning areas, saying the Junior School curriculum is largely based on secondary school content, which can only be effectively delivered by graduate teachers trained in at least two teaching subjects, including Sciences, Mathematics, Technical subjects, Languages and Humanities.
“TSC ensures that subject assignment in Junior Schools aligns with teachers’ areas of training. Integrated Science is taught by teachers trained in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, while Pre-Technical Studies is handled by teachers trained in Technical Education, Mathematics and Sciences. Creative Arts and Sports are taught by teachers trained in Music, Physical Education, English and Literature,” the Commission said.
On the issue of heavy workloads, where some teachers handle up to 40 lessons per week against the recommended 28, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) said it is undertaking regular staff balancing to redistribute teachers from well-staffed schools to those with acute shortages.
The Commission added that it also follows a structured replacement process to ensure that teachers who exit service through natural attrition are replaced in order to maintain the required establishment.
The Commission further defended the deployment of teachers across multiple learning areas, saying the Junior School curriculum is largely based on secondary school content, which can only be effectively delivered by graduate teachers trained in at least two teaching subjects.
Junior Secondary School teachers hold a protest match.
Photo credit: Isaac Wale | Nation Media Group
“The curriculum content for learners in Junior School is secondary school content which can only be effectively taught and implemented by graduate teachers trained in two teaching subjects in science, mathematics, technical subjects, languages or humanities,” the Commission said.
“Integrated Science is taught by teachers trained in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, while Pre-Technical Studies is handled by teachers trained in Technical Education, Mathematics and Sciences. Creative Arts and Sports are taught by teachers trained in Music, Physical Education, English and Literature,” TSC said.
“The Commission is undertaking regular staff balancing to optimise the utilisation of available teachers by transferring teachers from well-staffed schools to those with acute shortages,” TSC said.
“We follow a structured replacement process to ensure that teachers who exit service through natural attrition are replaced to maintain the required establishment,” the Commission said.
TSC further defended the continued use of intern teachers, saying the programme is guided by the Teacher Internship Policy and Guidelines (2019), which allows internship contracts to run for between three and 12 months, with provision for extension where necessary.
The Commission stated that the internship programme is designed to provide practical teaching experience, enhance pedagogical skills, and create job opportunities for unemployed youth, but does not guarantee automatic absorption into permanent and pensionable service.
Currently, 20,000 intern teachers are serving in Junior Schools under contracts running from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, after being competitively recruited in line with existing recruitment guidelines. However, the commission stated that, due to the absence of a budgetary allocation in the 2025/2026 financial year to confirm them in permanent terms, TSC will offer them a 12-month contract extension from January 2026 to December 2026.
“This extension is an offer and not automatic. Those who accept will continue serving under the existing internship terms, while those who decline will exit the programme in accordance with their contracts,” the Commission said.
On pay, TSC clarified that intern teachers are paid a gross monthly stipend of Sh20,000, which translates to an average net pay of about Sh17,000 after statutory deductions, including NSSF and SHIF. The Commission emphasised that interns are not permanent employees and therefore do not enjoy the full benefits accorded to teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
Despite growing pressure from unions and teachers’ groups for the immediate confirmation of interns, TSC maintained that absorption into permanent employment is fully dependent on budgetary approval by the National Treasury and Parliament. The Commission said no funds were allocated in the 2025/2026 financial year for the confirmation of the 20,000 Junior School interns, with funding only provided for the extension of their contracts.
“TSC remains committed to progressively absorbing qualified teachers, including former interns, subject to the availability of funds and approval by Parliament,” the Commission said.
