TSC in Talks With Government Over Recruitment of 58,000 New Teachers
Talks are underway between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Presidency about recruiting 58,000 in the current fiscal year.
If it happens, it will be in line with President William Ruto’s campaign promise that if he is elected, his government will hire 116,000 teachers in two years to address the current teacher shortage in public schools.
It would be the single largest teacher recruitment ever, bringing the total number of teachers on the government payroll to 400,000.
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia made the announcement yesterday during World Teachers Day celebrations at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi.
She did not, however, provide any recruitment timelines.
“Consultations are ongoing with the Presidency on teacher recruitment and we shall be giving (updates of the) progress as we go along.
“Be assured that the Kenyan teacher can only expect good things going forward.
"We shall be telling you how to go on with this recruitment as per the Kenya Kwanza Charter,” Dr Macharia said.
Dr. Ruto committed in June to "ensure that the current teacher shortage of 116,000 is fully bridged within two fiscal years by employing 58,000 teachers at a cost of Sh25 billion per year.
Unemployment among teachers was a major campaign issue with Raila Odinga, promising to hire all unemployed teachers if he wins.
However, the current focus is on the final term of the academic year in primary and secondary schools.
It is about preparing for the national examinations for Class Eight and Form Four, as well as plans to introduce the new Grade 6 under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
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Of course, this is a busy time in the education sector, as the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic gives way to the restoration of the regular school calendar.
The planned hiring will benefit thousands of unemployed teachers as well as those hired by school boards of management.
It will also relieve the burden on schools and parents who must continue to pay BOM teachers.
TSC in Talks With Government Over Recruitment of 58,000 New Teachers