The Teachers Service Commission is set to convert 20,000 teachers currently serving under the controversial internship programme to permanent and pensionable terms beginning January 2027.
The move comes after months of pressure from teacher unions, education stakeholders, and Members of Parliament who have repeatedly criticized the internship programme over low pay, job insecurity, and delayed confirmation of teachers despite existing staffing shortages in schools.
According to the Commission, the affected teachers will have completed the required internship period by January 2027, making them eligible for absorption into permanent employment.
The announcement is expected to bring relief to thousands of intern teachers who have been serving in schools across the country while earning reduced stipends compared to permanently employed teachers. Many interns have previously raised concerns over heavy workloads, lack of employment benefits, and uncertainty about their future.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the decision, terming it a positive step toward addressing teacher shortages and improving morale in schools. However, questions still remain over the future recruitment of additional teachers and whether the government will allocate enough funds to sustain mass employment on permanent terms.
The internship programme has remained a contentious issue since its introduction, with critics arguing that qualified teachers should be employed directly on permanent and pensionable terms rather than serving extended internship periods.
If implemented successfully, the transition could mark a major policy shift in teacher employment and offer stability to thousands of young educators entering the profession