Junior school education in Kenya is facing uncertainty as about 44,000 intern teachers threaten to stop working when the second term begins unless the government confirms them into permanent and pensionable jobs, escalating a dispute that now places pressure on both the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and learning continuity in thousands of schools.
The teachers, who make up a large share of the junior school workforce, say they will not continue under internship terms, insisting that their recruitment contradicts a Court of Appeal decision which they interpret as declaring the arrangement unlawful.
They are now demanding full absorption into the permanent payroll as a condition for continuing to teach.
Through the Kenya Junior School Teachers Association (Kejusta), the interns say their patience has run out and warn that schools could be severely affected if their demands are not addressed before reopening.
“No confirmation, no teaching. If we are not considered for confirmation, our services should not be taken for granted. We support the implementation of competency-based education, but motivation is also important,” said Rodgers Odhiambo, the chairperson the Kenya Junior School Teachers Association (Kejusta)
“The token presented to us as salary is too little for basic survival.”
Odhiambo cautioned that a withdrawal of labour would directly hit learning in junior schools, which are already strained by staffing shortages.
“Junior schools may not be ready for second term. This will paralyse learning because the government does not care about us,” Odhiambo said.
He further noted that expectations had been high after the court ruling, with many teachers believing the government would move quickly to confirm them into permanent positions.
“We believed the government would respond to the ruling and confirm us. Unfortunately, the issue has been given a deaf ear, and no one is talking about it anymore. The budget allocated to the TSC will not be used to confirm the 44,000 teachers to permanent and pensionable terms,” he said.
“It has affected morale. You talk to a Kejusta member and they tell you they have lost hope in teaching,” he said.
Odhiambo also called on the government to prioritize teachers’ welfare, saying the stability of the education sector depends on how educators are treated and supported.
Meanwhile, the funding situation within the education sector has added another layer to the standoff. President William Ruto assented the Supplementary Appropriation Act for the 2025/26 financial year on Wednesday, increasing total government expenditure to Sh4.695 trillion.
The Teachers Service Commission received Sh24.2 billion under the revised budget, intended to address salary gaps and cover health insurance contributions for teachers, a move aimed at easing existing financial pressure within the system.
“The education sector received an additional Sh24.2 billion allocated to the TSC to cover salary shortfalls and health insurance contributions,”reads the budget.
Despite the allocation, the intern teachers argue that their key demand remains unaddressed, leaving uncertainty over whether the funds will translate into permanent employment opportunities for them.
TSC acting CEO Evaleen Mitei said discussions are ongoing with government agencies to try and secure resources that could support the transition of interns into permanent and pensionable terms.
“As articulated before the Education Committee on March 17, the additional Sh21 billion ... will be mainly utilised for deficit in employee remuneration which was less by Sh12.8 billion and teachers’ medical scheme of Sh7.5 billion. The rest will cater for secretariat emolument and field operations,”Ms Mitei said.
With tensions rising and the second term approaching, fears are growing that junior school learners could be caught in the middle of an unresolved employment dispute.
