Junior Secondary School Teacher Shortage Threatens to Paralyze CBC
The start of learning for grade 7 pupils who reported to Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in Kenya on January 30, 2023, has been marked by frustration and disappointment for parents, as there is a lack of teachers in the schools.
Despite the government deploying 30,000 teachers, parents of pupils at Sinendet Primary School in Njoro, Nakuru County, are complaining that a month after their children reported to school, there are no teachers to facilitate learning.
John Mburu, a parent of a grade 7 learner, expresses his disappointment, saying that he bought uniforms and the required A4 booklets for his son, but since the boy reported to school, no teacher has facilitated learning.
Mburu further notes that after holding talks with the school management, they resolved to have parents pay Ksh.400 per month to employ a JSS teacher, but most parents say they do not have the funds.
Loise Kinuthia, another parent, expresses her concern that her daughter Lucy has revised only four subjects, one lesson each, and says her daughter will remain at home during the mid-term break rather than remain in class without any supervision or learning.
Lydia Wanjiku, a third parent, laments that the pupils are at risk of peer influence as they are unsupervised in grade 7, and urges the government to find a solution that will see learning for grade 7 pupils commence.
The situation at Sinendet Primary School is not unique, as many other schools across the country are also grappling with a shortage of teachers. Pundits attributes the shortage to factors such as inadequate training and low pay, which has led to many teachers leaving the profession.
The lack of teachers in schools has led to concerns about the quality of education that pupils will receive.
Without proper supervision and guidance, pupils may struggle to grasp concepts, leading to poor academic performance.
Additionally, pupils may be at risk of engaging in risky behavior in the absence of supervision.
In response to the crisis, the government needs to take urgent action to address the shortage of teachers in schools.
This could involve increasing funding for teacher training and development, improving working conditions, and increasing teacher salaries to attract and retain qualified teachers.
In the short term, the government could consider deploying more teachers to schools experiencing a shortage to ensure that pupils receive the education they deserve.
Junior Secondary School Teacher Shortage Threatens to Paralyze CBC
