The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) on Tuesday, March 22 announced the mass recruitment of teachers to counter the shortage of instructors in Kenya's North-Eastern region.
Speaking in Mombasa, TSC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nancy Macharia explained that the government gave the green light for the enrolment process following the mass exodus of non-local teachers from the region.
Macharia added that the teacher's employer will be working with locals and leaders to sign up and train teachers from the region. However, she clarified that hiring was open to professionals from all regions.
"It is true, non-local staff do not prefer working in North Eastern due to security-related issues. We are, therefore, working with area leaders to sign up teachers originating in the region as well as in other regions," she noted.
Reiterating support from President Uhuru Kenyatta's government, she noted that funds had been allocated for the process which will run throughout the year.
"Unlike in the norm where we would recruit teachers after the commission receives funding, this recruitment will go on through the year," Macharia declared.
The TSC boss encouraged teachers from across the country to apply for the job opportunities. through the office of the commission's county directors. She further waived qualifications, allowing retirees to sign up.
"Even those who had retired from the profession at 60 years of age but are yet to clock 65 years can apply for the jobs. We expect that this will help fill in the gaps," Macharia stated.
On February 25, leaders and education stakeholders in the region asked the government to intervene and proposed that the entry grade for those who wish to train as teachers to be lowered to D minus.
They further called for the government to beef up security in the region and protect teachers and students too.
Since 2021, teachers have been fled the North-Eastern region in their numbers following what they claimed were targeted attacks on non-locals by a militia group in the region.
The attacks, coupled with ambushes by the Al Shabaab militant group saw nearly 40,000 teachers abandon their professions, leaving the majority of the institutions understaffed. This led to the subsequent closure of a number of schools.
