- William Ruto directs Teachers Service Commission to automatically absorb teachers after two years of internship
- Directive issued during education conference in Naivasha
- Move comes amid nationwide protests by intern teachers
- Government under pressure over delayed permanent employment confirmations
- Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers backs striking teachers
- President hints at future plan to reduce or eliminate internship period
William Ruto has directed the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to immediately ensure that teachers who have served for two years under internship terms are automatically transitioned to permanent and pensionable employment.
The President issued the directive during a national education conference held in Naivasha on Thursday, May 7, as pressure continued mounting over ongoing protests by intern teachers across the country.
Speaking at the event, Ruto stated that the original agreement was clear from the beginning teachers recruited on internship contracts were only expected to serve for two years before being absorbed into permanent employment by TSC.
The Head of State expressed concern that some teachers may still be serving beyond the agreed internship period, saying such a situation was never part of the government’s arrangement.
“I hope there are no teachers who have served more than two years as interns because that is not what I bargained for,” Ruto said during the conference.
He further instructed TSC to urgently establish whether any teachers remain on internship terms beyond two years and resolve the matter immediately.
The President also hinted at possible future reforms in the education sector, suggesting that if the country’s economic situation improves, the internship duration could eventually be reduced from two years to one year or abolished altogether.
The directive comes at a time when intern teachers have staged nationwide demonstrations for weeks, demanding confirmation into permanent and pensionable terms. The protests have disrupted learning in several public secondary schools since the opening of the second term.
Despite earlier assurances from TSC about automatic absorption, the commission had reportedly linked the process to budgetary allocations from the National Treasury, creating uncertainty among thousands of teachers.
The crisis has also drawn support from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), which has criticised plans to recruit a fresh batch of intern teachers before fully confirming those already serving.
Teachers and union officials argue that employing new interns while experienced teachers remain on temporary contracts could worsen instability within the education sector.
