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12,000 teachers are set to retire from the public service by June 30, 2026 as TSC remain unmoved on their replacement.
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Reports, however, indicate that the commission is also preparing for a larger staffing plan involving 16,000 intern teachers who are expected to report in January 2027, alongside the conversion of 20,000 teachers to permanent and pensionable terms.
At least 12,000 teachers are expected to retire from the public service by June 30, 2026, even as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) moves to delay their replacement exercise to December, according to sources within the commission.
The move is expected to create a temporary staffing gap in public schools for several months before new recruitment is undertaken.
Reports indicate that the commission is also preparing for a larger staffing plan involving 16,000 intern teachers who are expected to report in January 2027, alongside the conversion of 20,000 teachers to permanent and pensionable terms.
TSC Chairperson Dr. Jamleck Muturi has defended the approach, arguing that prioritising permanent recruitment at this stage would be unfair given the large number of teachers already in the system awaiting confirmation.
“It will be very unfair to advertise Permanent and Pensionable teaching vacancies when we have a backlog of 44,000 intern teachers waiting for confirmation,” he said.
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The December replacement exercise is expected to largely favour unemployed primary school teachers, as most of those exiting the service are drawn from the primary school level, raising expectations of targeted recruitment in that cadre.
Education stakeholders have raised concern that the delay in replacement could strain learning institutions, particularly in rural and high-enrolment schools, where teacher shortages are already being reported.
Others note that the phased recruitment strategy may help the commission manage wage bill pressures while absorbing intern teachers into permanent and pensionable terms over time.
Meanwhile, the Teachers Service Commission is expected to release formal recruitment guidelines later in the year to outline timelines, regional allocations and confirmation criteria for interns transitioning to permanent and pensionable status, a move aimed at ensuring transparency, equity and stability in staffing across all public schools nationwide during the 2026 recruitment cycle as planned.
By Kithinji Njeru
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