TSC Faces Funding Shortfall in Confirming 20,000 JSS Intern Teachers.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has a funding shortfall that will not allow it to confirm 20,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers to permanent and pensionable (PnP) terms. The Commission needs an additional KES 3.5 billion to facilitate the transition of these teachers whose one-year internship contracts will expire on 31st December 2025.
The affected teachers were recruited in November 2024 and deployed to schools in January 2025. In the 2025/2026 budget estimates, TSC has been allocated a total of KES 377 billion for teacher salaries and allowances. Of this, KES 7.2 billion has been set aside for JSS intern teachers. The KES 7.2 billion is to cater for stipend payments for the current 20,000 JSS interns and support recruitment of an additional 24,000 interns.
Due to the budget constraints, confirmation of the interns to PnP status is uncertain. TSC has said that if government fails to allocate the required additional funding, the contracts of the current JSS intern teachers will be renewed for another one year.
National Treasury has indicated that the national budget will be presented by Treasury CS John Mbadi on 12th June 2025 at 3:00 p.m. in Parliament. TSC seeks to address the funding gap through the Supplementary Budget. The Commission said if additional funds are made available through this channel, the confirmation process for JSS intern teachers will start in October 2025.
Other education allocations in the 2025/2026 national budget are:
- Junior Secondary School capitation – KES 28.9 billion
- Secondary School capitation – KES 51.8 billion
- Examination fees – KES 5.9 billion
Distribution of the 20,000 JSS intern teachers across all counties is as follows:
- Baringo – 384
- Bomet – 523
- Bungoma – 782
- Busia – 426
- Elgeyo Marakwet – 312
- Embu – 315
- Garissa – 114
- Homa Bay – 634* Isiolo – 81
- Kajiado – 347
- Kakamega – 962
- Kericho – 477
- Kiambu – 548
- Kilifi – 548
- Kirinyaga – 214
- Kisii – 647
- Kisumu – 509
- Kitui – 947
- Kwale – 341
- Laikipia – 221
- Lamu – 90
- Machakos – 684
- Makueni – 688
- Mandera – 178
- Marsabit – 138
- Meru – 669
- Migori – 552
- Mombasa – 145
- Murang’a – 503
- Nairobi – 566
- Nakuru – 799
- Nandi – 567
- Narok – 616
- Nyamira – 347
- Nyandarua – 316
- Nyeri – 354
- Samburu – 100
- Siaya – 518
- Taita Taveta – 182
- Tana River – 121
- Tharaka Nithi – 323
- Trans Nzoia – 323
- Turkana – 220
- Uasin Gishu – 443
- Vihiga – 334
- Wajir – 149
- West Pokot – 399
TSC has emphasized the need for sufficient funding to sustain Junior Secondary School curriculum implementation.
TSC Faces Funding Shortfall in Confirming 20,000 JSS Intern Teachers.
 has a funding shortfall that will){kind=link}
If the JSS Intern teachers are to be confirmed on pnp terms..why grant them 50 marks during the normal recruitment processes.. This sounds unfair for other teachers who aren’t on internship. Kindly TSC check on this in the upcoming recruitment exercises. My thoughts.