JSS Teachers Threaten Nationwide Strike Over Employment Terms

A fresh crisis is looming in Kenya’s education sector after thousands of junior school teachers employed under internship terms announced plans to paralyze learning when schools reopen for the second term on April 27.

The teachers have vowed not to report back to their stations unless the government addresses their long-standing demand for conversion to permanent and pensionable (PnP) terms.

The threatened strike, expected to kick off on the reopening day, is set to pile pressure on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), which currently oversees a workforce of about 44,000 junior school teachers serving under its internship programme.

The educators argue that their continued engagement under temporary terms is unfair, especially given their qualifications and workload.

Out of the total, 20,000 teachers were initially recruited on a one-year internship contract running from January 1 to December 31, 2025.

Their contracts were later extended for another year, now set to end on December 31, 2026. In addition, the commission brought in another 24,000 teachers under similar one-year contracts beginning January 2026.

Despite assurances from TSC that it has already sought funding in the upcoming July budget to transition the teachers to permanent and pensionable terms after their contracts expire, frustration continues to mount among the interns. Many feel the promise lacks immediacy, prompting the strike notice.

The situation has been further complicated by a landmark ruling from the Court of Appeal, which declared the TSC internship programme illegal.

The court held that the policy was improperly applied, stating that internship terms should only apply to trainee teachers, not fully trained and registered professionals currently serving in classrooms.

Appearing before the Senate on March 11, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba acknowledged the weight of the ruling and its implications for government policy.

He confirmed that both the Ministry of Education and TSC are reviewing the decision to determine the necessary legal and financial steps forward.

“The Court of Appeal has indeed determined that the policy of internship is null and void,” Ogamba told lawmakers, adding that the government is working on measures to ensure compliance with the judgment.

The ruling followed a petition by over 35,000 junior school teachers who challenged their classification as interns, arguing that they were fully qualified professionals entitled to fair employment terms. The court agreed, terming the arrangement discriminatory and unconstitutional.

However, the push for a unified strike may face internal divisions. TSC has proposed confirming 20,000 of the teachers to permanent terms by the end of the year, a move that could see a section of the workforce opt to resume duties in anticipation of formal employment. This development risks weakening the planned industrial action.

Meanwhile, the government has reiterated its commitment to eventually absorb all intern teachers into permanent positions.

Speaking in Kisii County ahead of William Ruto’s development tour of the Gusii region, Ogamba revealed that the state has already secured KSh 6 billion for the exercise and is seeking an additional KSh 23 billion to complete the process.

“We have no choice but to have them. The challenge is finding the resources and determining how to stagger the process,” Ogamba said, emphasizing that the transition will be gradual due to financial constraints.

At the same time, the government is planning to recruit an additional 16,000 teachers for both junior and senior secondary schools. This move is part of a broader strategy to address teacher shortages exacerbated by the rollout of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.

Under its 2026–2027 budget proposals, TSC has outlined plans not only to confirm intern teachers but also to expand the teaching workforce to meet growing demand.

The need has become more urgent following another ruling by the Employment and Labour Relations Court on March 14, 2026, which similarly declared the internship programme unlawful and ordered the immediate employment of affected teachers on permanent terms.

Ogamba confirmed that consultations between the Ministry of Education, TSC, and the National Treasury are at an advanced stage, with discussions focusing on setting a clear timeline for implementing the court’s directive.

Beyond employment concerns, the government is also working to improve the quality and distribution of teachers in line with CBE requirements.

More than 220,000 teachers have already undergone retraining to equip them with skills needed for the new curriculum, particularly in technical subjects.

The transition of the first CBE cohort to Grade 10 has revealed significant trends, with about 60 percent of learners opting for STEM pathways, while nearly 40 percent are pursuing social sciences. A smaller percentage has chosen sports science. According to Ogamba, these patterns are guiding government efforts to align teacher training with subject demand.

Additionally, the internship programme, despite its legal setbacks, has played a role in improving staffing levels. The teacher-to-student ratio has dropped from 1:45 to 1:29, and the planned recruitment of more teachers is expected to bring it closer to the global standard of 1:25.

As the reopening date approaches, uncertainty hangs over the education sector. Whether the strike materializes or is softened by government concessions and internal divisions among teachers remains to be seen.

What is clear, however, is that the issue of intern teachers’ employment status has reached a critical turning point, with far-reaching implications for schools, learners, and the broader education system.

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