The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has raised alarm over a looming funding crisis that could see up to 44,000 intern teachers sent home if additional budgetary allocations are not secured.
The warning comes amid growing pressure on the education sector, with the commission indicating that sustaining the internship programme has become increasingly difficult due to limited financial resources.
Funding crisis threatens internship programme
TSC officials say the internship programme, which has been instrumental in absorbing thousands of unemployed graduate teachers, is now at risk due to inadequate funding from the national budget.
The commission has been relying on government allocations to pay stipends for intern teachers, but current budget provisions fall short of sustaining the large number currently engaged.
If no intervention is made, the contracts of the intern teachers may not be renewed once they expire, effectively locking out thousands of young educators from the system.
Thousands of teachers at risk
The potential termination could significantly impact the education sector, as intern teachers have been deployed across primary and secondary schools to bridge staffing gaps.
Many schools, particularly in rural and understaffed areas, rely heavily on intern teachers to maintain learning continuity.
Education stakeholders warn that losing such a large number of teachers could worsen the already strained teacher-to-student ratios, affecting the quality of education nationwide.
Calls for government intervention
Education experts and unions are now urging the government to prioritise funding for the programme, arguing that it plays a critical role in both employment and service delivery.
There are also calls for the TSC to transition intern teachers into permanent and pensionable terms, a move that has been a long-standing demand among educators.
Stakeholders say failure to act could not only disrupt learning but also increase unemployment among trained teachers.
Uncertainty for young educators
For many intern teachers, the uncertainty has created anxiety over their future, as they depend on the programme for income and professional experience.
The internship programme has been viewed as a stepping stone into full employment, offering graduates practical classroom exposure while awaiting permanent hiring opportunities.
With the current budget constraints, however, that pathway now appears uncertain, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of teacher recruitment in Kenya.
