Junior Secondary Teachers Shortage Major Cause of Concern
A recent investigation by The Standard has revealed that most schools are struggling with a lack of resources and teacher shortages.
With the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) only posting two to three newly recruited teachers as interns or on a permanent basis to most schools, the shortage of teachers has become particularly acute in junior secondary classes.
This has resulted in primary school teachers having to assist with some classes in junior secondary, putting a significant strain on teachers and resources.
According to the report, TSC has only posted two to three newly recruited teachers as interns or on a permanent basis to most schools. This means that there is a significant shortage of teachers, particularly in junior secondary classes.
At Nyamachaki Primary School, for example, 198 students in the junior secondary section have been divided into three streams. TSC has posted only six teachers to the junior secondary section.
As a result, primary school teachers have been forced to assist in some classes in junior secondary since the population is high and the six teachers cannot manage 14 lessons daily in three classes.
The situation is not much better in other schools. At Mariira Day and Boarding Primary School, for instance, the TSC has only posted four teachers to handle 154 students.
Similarly, at Kiria-Ini Primary School, there are only two teachers handling Kiswahili, CRE, Business Studies, and History. The teachers at these schools have been forced to improvise, using the internet and locally improvised teaching aids to get content for teaching the students.
Besides teacher shortages, many schools also lack resources such as textbooks and teachers for Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Music. This has resulted in a significant strain on the available teachers, who are forced to handle a wide range of subjects without adequate resources.
The high cost of living has made matters worse, as more parents have opted to send their children to public schools. This has led to a significant increase in student numbers, making it even more challenging for teachers to manage their classes.
Conclusion:
The shortage of resources and teachers in schools is a major cause for concern. With a lack of resources such as textbooks and teachers for subjects such as Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Music, it is becoming increasingly challenging for teachers to manage their classes.
The high cost of living has also led to an increase in student numbers, exacerbating the situation further. It is crucial that the government takes steps to address these issues and provide adequate support to schools across the country, to ensure that all children have access to quality education.
Junior Secondary Teachers Shortage Major Cause of Concern
