TSC to Convert 26000 Intern Teachers to Permanent
TSC to Convert 26000 Intern Teachers to Permanent
In their ongoing negotiations with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) recently announced a major development. As of January 2025, the TSC has promised to convert all 26,000 intern teachers hired in 2023 to permanent and pensionable contracts, according to the most recent update from KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori. Many in the education field are relieved by this historic ruling because it finally addresses the long-standing problem of intern teachers’ job insecurity and gives them the stability they deserve.
Misori also addressed the troubling problem of understaffing in schools, highlighting the worrisomely low teacher-to-student ratio in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS). Because there are only two teachers per stream who are in charge of every curriculum area, there is a chance that the standard of instruction will suffer. Acknowledging this pressing necessity, KUPPET pushed for prompt action in their conversations with the TSC.
The TSC has responded by promising to hire 20,000 more junior secondary school teachers, a move that should greatly reduce the JSS staffing shortfall. Furthermore, this fiscal year, 2,000 of these new hires will be sent to Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) in an effort to alleviate regional differences in staffing. By ensuring that even the most isolated and underprivileged communities have access to skilled teachers, this focused strategy seeks to advance educational equity.
Misori did stress that adding more teachers is just one aspect of the solution, though. Simplifying the hiring procedure and making sure that all qualified teachers are quickly verified and added to the new teacher career guidelines are also urgently needed. By doing this, the educational system will be able to fully utilize the potential of its labor force and give students the excellent education they are entitled to.
Concerns about recent teacher promotions were also covered by KUPPET in addition to staffing issues. After carefully examining the promotion list provided by TSC, KUPPET determined that the promotions were appropriate, despite concerns regarding the fairness of the promotions and doubts regarding the promotion of retired or deceased teachers. By guaranteeing that promotions are granted on the basis of merit and in accordance with set protocols, this assurance from KUPPET contributes to the transparency and preservation of trust in the education sector.
All things considered, these recent changes represent a major step forward in resolving the numerous issues that Kenya’s education system is currently confronting. The government and interested parties are attempting to create a more robust and resilient education system that can successfully meet the needs of all students by placing a higher priority on the well-being of educators and the caliber of education provided.
