- The PSC has announced plans to review the Public Service Internship Programme policy to include diploma and TVET graduates alongside university graduates.
- The revamped programme will focus on outcomes during and after internships, incorporating private sector participation, entrepreneurship training, and savings schemes.
- The government has recruited 3,000 interns under PSIP Cohort 9 for 2026/2027, with reforms aimed at preparing young people for employment, entrepreneurship, and broader opportunities after completion.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has commenced the process of reviewing the Public Service Internship Programme (PSIP) Policy to allow graduates from diploma programmes and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to benefit from government internship opportunities.
PSC Chairperson Francis Meja announced the planned policy review on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, during a courtesy call on the Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Wycliffe Oparanya, at the NSSF Building.
Meja said the review would seek to strengthen the internship programme by focusing on what happens to young people both during and after their internship.
“The focus should now shift to what happens during and after the PSIP programme. A revamped programme will bring the private sector on board, provide entrepreneurship training, and introduce a savings scheme for interns,” Meja said.
The proposed changes would broaden the programme beyond its current eligibility requirements, which primarily target university graduates.
The PSC recently announced the recruitment of 3,000 interns under PSIP Cohort 9 for the 2026/2027 financial year. The year-long programme is being implemented in government ministries, departments, state agencies and corporations, as well as public universities.
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Under the current requirements, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university, have graduated no earlier than 2020, be proficient in computer skills and must not have previously benefited from a similar internship programme.
The internship runs for 12 months and is non-renewable. Interns are expected to undertake duties assigned by their supervisors, document skills acquired during their deployment and participate in mentorship activities and other responsibilities designed under the programme.
The PSIP is a government youth empowerment initiative designed to give college graduates hands-on work experience and practical skills while enhancing their chances of securing employment, building professional networks and pursuing entrepreneurship.
Oparanya called for the establishment of a consolidated government internship programme with a comprehensive system for tracking interns’ progress and individual performance.
“We all serve the same government. The internship programme should be centralised to ensure quality control and standardisation. All interns should receive the same benefits across the board,” Oparanya said.
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The proposed review could therefore open the programme to a wider pool of young people, particularly diploma and TVET graduates, while also introducing stronger links with the private sector, entrepreneurship training and financial savings opportunities.
The PSC says the reforms are intended to make the internship programme more effective in preparing young people for employment, entrepreneurship and other opportunities after completion of their placements.
By Obegi Malack
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