The National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has assured serving Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers that they will be converted to permanent and pensionable (PnP) terms before January 2026.
Speaking during an interview on a local vernacular radio station, Mbadi said the process will officially begin immediately after the KCSE examinations, marking a major relief for thousands of JSS intern educators across the country.
The CS noted that the government is aware of the frustrations faced by the interns and has already factored their confirmation into upcoming budgetary plans. However, he appealed to the teachers to exercise patience as the process unfolds.
“I know many interns are anxious and have been sending me messages,” Mbadi said. “Please, don’t flood my inbox. I’m receiving over 50 messages per second, making it difficult to respond individually. I assure you, the conversion will happen before January 2026.”
Mbadi’s remarks come amid growing pressure from the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and JSS interns, who have persistently demanded that the government confirm the teachers without further delay.
KUPPET has repeatedly argued that the current internship arrangement amounts to “exploitation disguised as training,” pointing out that the teachers are qualified professionals performing full workloads yet earning stipends instead of proper salaries.
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The union insists that confirming the interns will not only motivate them but also strengthen the delivery of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Several JSS interns have also expressed frustration, saying they feel neglected despite their vital role in the education system.
Some have even threatened to boycott classes if the government fails to act, citing poor pay and job insecurity.
Mbadi’s announcement therefore offers a glimmer of hope to thousands of teachers who have been living in uncertainty.
If implemented as promised, the conversion could mark a turning point for education labour relations, affirming the government’s commitment to fairness and teacher welfare — a move both KUPPET and the interns have long been fighting for.
By Philip Koech
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