The Teachers Service Commission has Monday confirmed that there is a shortage of 114,581 teachers in primary and post-primary institutions in Kenya.
Speaking during the release of the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam results at Mtihani House, TSC Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Macharia, disclosed that the commission needs at least 114,581 new teachers to address the glaring deficit.
The TSC boss noted that while the government funds the annual recruitment of 5,000 teachers, the number is not enough to sustain the ever-growing number of learners in the country.
“TSC is grateful to the government for allocating funds and resources to allow us to recruit an average of 5,000 teachers every year for our public schools. That notwithstanding, we still have a shortage of 114,581 educators in primary and post-primary institutions,” Macharia stated.
The TSC boss noted that the current teacher-to-student ratio was imbalanced and did not meet the internationally prescribed standards.
In the event attended by Education Cabinet Secretary, George Magoha, Macharia attributed the deficit to the 100 per cent transition policy from primary to secondary schools.
“This is due to the increased enrolment arising from the 100 per cent transition policy, and registration of new schools,” the TSC boss noted.
She added that the Commission will be carrying out a nationwide audit of all basic education institutions to ensure they have a balanced teacher-learner ratio before the beginning of the new academic year in May 2022.
According to Macharia, TSC has planned on training 60,000 junior secondary school teachers in CBC and Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) with effect from 25th April (immediately after completion of marking of KCSE) to 13th May 2022.
“The training will adopt a phased (cascade) model of training that will start at the national level to the county and sub county levels,” she said.
During the period, the teachers will be trained in specific learning areas in languages, pure sciences, applied sciences, mathematics, humanities and technical subjects
While releasing the KCPE results, CS Magoha noted that the class of 2021 will be the second last to sit the national exam under the 8-4-4 system. Under CBC, Grade 7and 8 will be moved to high school.
The state has since injected billions to oversee the construction of thousands of classrooms across the country. Magoha noted that he will see to it that the construction of classes is completed before he hands over to the next CS in the government that will be formed after the August 9, 2022, polls.
