Secondary school boards of management conduct interviews

The recruitment of teachers for public primary schools in the county started yesterday, with a large number of people turning up for consideration.

“We are carrying out the recruitment as directed because we have to fill all the vacancies that arose after teachers absconded duty or left on other grounds,” said the Teachers Service Commission’s acting County Director, Mr Hussein Hassan.

He spoke during the hiring in Mandera East Sub-County.

The official said the sub-county, which has been hit hardest by the teachers’ crisis, received more than 70 applicants. The trained teachers are from both the region and elsewhere.

“We have picked 53 teachers. Seven are locals and 46 non-locals. As government, we offer employment to any willing Kenyan so long as he or she has the required qualifications,” said Mr Hassan.

More than 800 teachers for public primary and secondary schools have refused to return to Mandera, citing insecurity. Late last year, Al-Shabaab terrorists killed 28 people, most of them teachers, as they were heading to Nairobi on a bus.

“We are recruiting P1 teachers in the six sub-counties. I am certain that by the end of the day we shall have the 412 teachers needed for primary schools,” said Mr Hassan.

NOT REPORTED FOR DUTY

So far, 343 primary school teachers have not reported for duty in the 188 public primary schools in the devolved unit. Another 206 out of 335 in 42 public secondary schools are also absent.

“We are only dealing with primary schools. For secondary schools, their respective boards of management are conducting interviews,” said Mr Hassan.
As a short-term solution to the teachers’ crisis, the county resolved to hire holders of Form Four certificates to keep the students in school.

Most of the people who turned up for recruitment told the Nation that their circumstances had forced them to seek employment.

“I have come all the way from Trans Nzoia County because I want a job. I can’t continue sitting at home when job opportunities have arisen here,” said Mr John Mikheti.

He said he is satisfied with the current security situation in the county.

Ms Teresia Waithera from Kiambu said what is important for her is securing a job despite terrorism and crime.

“My MP and his bodyguards were killed. This shows that insecurity is everywhere and anyone is a target,’’ said Ms Waithera.

Mr Meshack Musinga from Kitui said he was comfortable working in Mandera despite the security situation.

“I have come to work as a teacher here because getting a job back home has been difficult. I left college in 2011,” said Mr Musinga.

Ms Belliah Yeko from Trans Nzoia said she had been without a job for more than six years since graduating from college.

“I am ready to work here because I have to transform lives,” she said.

Most teachers in private schools within Mandera have taken advantage of the boycott to join government.