According to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer Dr Nancy Macharia, the Commission is set to recruit 20,000 intern teachers to teach Grade 7 in July this year.
The move is intended to address the shortage of teachers in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).
The TSC CEO revealed this in parliament when asked what was being done to address the shortage of teachers in Grade 7 with time quickly running out.
Igembe North Member of Parliament (MP) Julius Taitum suggested that the Commission must have a plan to replace upgraded teachers in primary schools.
The problem of a shortage of teachers has been persistent for a long time in the country’s education system.
The Teachers Service Commission has been grappling with the issue for many years with the shortage of qualified teachers in certain subjects being so acute.
However, in recent years, the government has taken measures to address the issue including recruiting intern teachers and upgrading of primary school teachers to teach in the JSS.
However, despite these measures, the shortage of teachers has continued to be a major problem in the education sector.
TSC has received criticism for not doing enough to address the shortage of teachers with some of the opinion that the Commission has to be more proactive in identifying and addressing the shortage of teachers.
Dr Macharia’s Commission responded to this criticism stating that it is doing everything within its power to recruit and retain qualified teachers. The Commission stated they have been working closely with the government and other stakeholders to address the problem.
The TSC CEO informed the National Assembly that 20,000 intern teachers would be recruited to teach seventh grade in July in order to alleviate the shortage of teachers in Grade 7.
According to reports, by the end of the current week, more than 10,000 teachers employed on internship terms will report to their schools to teach in Grade 7.