President Ruto says intern teachers will be confirmed after 2 years as Kenya plans to hire 100,000 teachers by 2026 to end the classroom shortage.
President William Ruto has reaffirmed his government’s dedication to ending Kenya’s teacher shortage and guaranteeing stable employment for educators.
Speaking during an interview at the Kitui State Lodge, Ruto revealed that when he took office, he found a massive gap in the teaching workforce. “When I became President, I found a huge gap of teachers in classrooms,” he said.
Ruto explained that his administration has already made tremendous progress in teacher recruitment and aims to hire 100,000 teachers by January 2026. “By next year, the gap will be closed,” he assured.
Internship Program to Bridge Teacher Gaps
The President noted that there are over 300,000 trained teachers in Kenya who remain unemployed, even as schools continue to face severe staffing shortages. To solve this, the government launched a Teacher Internship Program to place qualified teachers in schools for a two-year training period.
After the internship, the teachers will transition into permanent and pensionable (PnP) positions. “There will be no negotiation after two years. All junior teachers who serve under internship will be confirmed,” Ruto emphasized.
Improving Education Quality
The recruitment drive supports the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and the junior secondary school system. By hiring more teachers, the government aims to reduce the teacher-pupil ratio and improve learning outcomes, especially in rural and marginalized areas.
Ruto’s promise to confirm intern teachers after two years gives hope to thousands of young teachers seeking job stability. It also positions Kenya to strengthen its education system and ensure that every learner has access to quality instruction.
