Omboko Milemba: Internship programme exploits teachers

 The history of internship in teaching dates back to around 2010. At the time, the government was facing a shortage of teachers after the introduction of free primary education. Instead of employing teachers permanently as required by law, the government introduced a one-year internship programme. The first cohort of about 18,000 teachers was employed under this system.

 The promise was that after one year they would be absorbed into permanent employment. But when that year ended, the government refused to confirm them. That forced teachers’ unions to organize strikes demanding their colleagues be employed. Eventually, they were absorbed.

The issue resurfaced later?

In 2018 the government introduced what they called “relief teachers,” who were paid about Sh30,000 monthly. Again, the unions protested because this arrangement was outside the law. Those teachers were eventually absorbed as well.

But the problem returned in 2022 when the Competency-Based Curriculum introduced junior secondary schools. Suddenly there was a huge shortage of teachers to handle new subjects such as sciences and technical disciplines. Instead of employing teachers permanently, the government once again introduced internships.

How many teachers are currently affected?

At the moment, junior secondary schools have about 121,000 teachers in total. Out of these, approximately 44,000 are interns. These teachers are doing the same work as their permanently employed colleagues but are paid far less.

How much are these interns earning?

Intern teachers are paid about Sh20,000 per month. After deductions, they remain with roughly Sh17,000. Yet many of them are posted far from home and must pay rent and other living expenses. Some are married and supporting families.

So imagine a teacher handling complex subjects like chemistry or mathematics, performing the same duties as a permanent teacher, but earning less than half the salary. That is exploitation.

You’ve used the word exploitation several times.

Yes, because that is exactly what it is. These teachers are fully qualified professionals. Before graduation, they undergo teaching practice, which is essentially their internship. After completing their studies, they should be employed directly on permanent and pensionable terms.

But instead they are subjected to another internship that can last six months, one year, or even two years depending on the circumstances. That is unfair and discriminatory.

Some people argue that the government introduced internships because it lacked funds to hire teachers permanently. Does that argument hold?

No, it does not. The law is the law. You cannot bypass the law simply because of financial difficulties. If the government cannot afford something, it must still operate within legal frameworks. 

Using financial challenges as justification for violating labour laws is wrong. It is essentially asking the country to accept exploitation for the sake of convenience. 

What should happen now that the court has ruled?

The Teachers Service Commission must immediately stop employing teachers as interns. Secondly, it must go to Parliament and request funds to absorb the 44,000 teachers currently serving as interns into permanent and pensionable positions.

These teachers have already served the education system. They deserve job security and fair pay.

How serious is the teacher shortage in Kenya right now?

The shortage remains significant. Previously the gap was estimated at more than 200,000 teachers. Under the current administration, around 76,000 teachers have been employed and another 44,000 are currently interns.

That is a huge improvement compared to the past when only about 5,000 teachers were hired annually. However, the introduction of junior and senior secondary levels under the Competency-Based Curriculum has created new demands for teachers, particularly in STEM subjects. Because of this expansion, the shortage has risen again to around 115,000 teachers.

Can the country afford to employ all these teachers?

Education already receives a significant share of the national budget, about 26 per cent, which is actually above the global recommendation of around 20 per cent.

The challenge is not always lack of money but how resources are managed. We must conduct audits in the Ministry of Education and TSC to ensure funds are used efficiently.

We also need to think creatively. There are many bursary and scholarship funds spread across different institutions — from members of parliament, governors, and other agencies. If these funds were consolidated properly, we could significantly strengthen the education sector.

There have also been complaints about payments for examiners and invigilators. What is your position on that?

Teachers who mark national examinations under the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) are severely underpaid. In some cases, they receive as little as Sh30 per script.

Even worse, payments are delayed for months. Some teachers marked exams last year and have not yet been paid. That is unacceptable.

We have taken this matter to Parliament and demanded that the Ministry of Education address it immediately.

What message do you have for intern teachers who are worried about their future?

The internship programme is coming to an end. The court has spoken, and we must respect the rule of law. Teachers should only be employed on permanent and pensionable terms.

We will continue pushing the government and Parliament to ensure that the 44,000 intern teachers are absorbed without delay. Teachers deserve dignity, fair pay, and job security.

And above all, investing in teachers is investing in the future of this country. Without teachers, there is no education system.