Graduate hiring plan to target slow learners in rural schools

The government will hire more than 2,000 graduates to offer tuition to pupils from areas that suffer teacher shortages.

The tutors will be posted to various villages outside major towns and will be paid Sh10,000 per month as salary.

They are expected to be accommodated at a central home where the pupils can access them for the extra lessons.

Youth Affairs national secretary Nixon Korir said that a two-week training for the recruits was under way in Garissa before they are dispatched.

The idea that was initiated by Deputy President William Ruto is a Jubilee Government youth employment strategy.

ANY DISCIPLINE

“We had 8,000 applicants out of which 2,000 qualified. The only requirement was to hold a degree in any discipline,” Mr Korir said in an interview on Monday.

The secretary said the pilot programme would be launched in eight counties, including Kisumu, Busia, Kilifi, Machakos, Garissa and Mombasa.

The government was working with the school curriculum development institute to produce a standard design and concept that will be adopted across the eight counties, according to Mr Korir.

The Teachers Service Commission and Kenya National Union of Teachers are also part of the programme’s organisers alongside other private stakeholders.

“Teachers will carry on with classes as usual while the tutors will only come in to reinforce certain aspects for the benefit of slow learners,” he said.

Other than remedial classes, the graduates are expected to promote national cohesion as supported by The National Cohesion and Integration Commission, who are stakeholders.

The youth secretary added that the tutors are also expected to spearhead extra curriculum activities like music and games and steer career development.

“The volunteers have accepted to work far from home and even be hosted by strange families in a bid to promote integration. They are to interact and preach peace among the communities,” he said.

NEW CULTURES

Over 200 headteachers, community leaders and education officers from the eight counties are involved in the programme.

Schools far away from urban areas were identified to ensure volunteers were acquainted with new cultures.

School heads had forwarded names of families interested in hosting the tutors around the identified schools for vetting by a committee before they were approved.

The families then signed a contract to accept the roles.

The essence involving all professions and not just teachers is to guide the children on career paths. “They need to interact with role models from a tender age.” Mr Korir said.