The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has revealed that it will focus on recruiting teachers for primary schools in the New Year’s recruitment drive.
In its preliminary report, the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER) reforms recommended the hiring of 30,000 additional teachers for the Junior Secondary School level.
The recruitment drive is set to take place in January next year.
The teachers could be hired on a contractual basis. However, this detail has not been confirmed by the teachers’ employer.
The recruitment of diploma holders who graduated from technical and vocational education training (TVET) to teach pre-tech topics might irk teachers’ unions.
According to the initial plan, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) was to retain secondary school teachers who have a background in Mathematics, Physics and Home Science to teach the courses.
Some of the pre-tech disciplines to be taught are woodworking, metalworking, technical drawing, electricity, electronics, home management, typing, shorthand, textile and clothing, auto mechanics, and accounting.
It is alleged that the current administration was against doing away with pre-tech topics because they form the backbone for technical and vocational education and training (TVET), a fundamental component of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto.
The recruitment of individuals with a certificate in TVET will present the ‘hustlers’ with a chance of employment.
President William Ruto, after receiving the PWPER’s recommendations, said that most stakeholders who made their recommendations to the task force approved the CBC but opposed its enhancement.
“Eighty-six per cent decided or advocated that children in sixth grade should advance to seventh grade, although junior secondary schools should be located in elementary schools.
“For this reason, many parents must keep a close eye on their children in grades 7, 8 and 9,” he said.
Every Member of Parliament will be obligated to use the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to build a classroom and a laboratory in every elementary school.
Dr William Ruto said that the government will collaborate with MPs to ensure the measures are delivered on time.
The Head of State called on Kenyans to embrace parental engagement saying that parents have requested less involvement in the education of their children.
“I would humbly suggest that as parents, every evening my daughter exerts pressure by requesting assistance with a certain assignment. We must recognize that our children’s education is not just the duty of instructors. It is also ours,” he said.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nancy Macharia revealed that the Commission is having a shortage of 68,000 secondary school teachers.
The TSC CEO revealed this on Friday while overseeing the opening of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination papers at the Nyali DCC’s office.
She also revealed the recruitment of 30,000 teachers for the 8-4-4 with junior high school and elementary schools completing the recruitment drive.
“There is a dire shortage of 116,000 teachers across the country with secondary schools alone experiencing a shortage of 68,000 educators,” said the TSC CEO.