Government to employ 18,000 teachers, says PS Ole Kiyiapi

A total of 18,000 teachers who have been working on contract will be employed on permanent basis, Education permanent secretary Prof James Ole Kiyiapi has said.

Prof Ole Kiyiapi said that the government is sourcing for funds to hire another 10, 000 teachers who will be posted to regions and districts that are seriously understaffed.

Prof Kiyiapi’s statement appeared to contradict Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta who has maintained that the Government could not afford to hire the teachers this year.

The PS was speaking at Amagoro primary school during the Teso North district education day occasion.

“The 18,000 teachers who have working on contract should also be employed in order to feel like their colleagues in same status” Professor Ole Kiyiapi said.

He said that education standards in the country can not be improved without having enough teachers in all schools.

The PS told Teso professionals to allocate themselves one school each in order to improve education standards which he said was very poor and wanting.

“It is sad to note that only one per cent of students in Teso who excelled in last years KCSE examination will be able to join public universities.

Professor Kiyiapi promised that he will soon tell Kenyans about the Sh4.2 billion believed to have been embezzled in education ministry.

“We want to tell the country to give the country the exact story, what was used and lost” he told the gathering.

He at the same time refuted claims that a total of Sh23 Billion was returned from education ministry during last financial year.