5,000 new teachers set to ease shortage

The Teachers Service Commission on Tuesday announced it would recruit 5,000 new teachers to address the shortage in public schools.

In a statement, TSC chief executive Nancy Macharia said qualified teachers who are registered with the commission have until July 31 to submit their applications.

Leaders of teachers’ unions put the shortage across the country at 80,000 and have been demanding more budgetary allocations to education to support the hiring of more teachers.

This financial year, the government allocated Sh2.3 billion for teacher recruitment while some Sh2.2 billion is for promotions.

Last year, a similar number of teachers was recruited of which 2,479 went to primary schools and 2,521 went to secondary schools.

SUBMIT DOCUMENTS

On Tuesday, Mrs Macharia said that out of the 5,000 teachers to be recruited, 2,338 are for primary schools while 2,662 will be deployed to post-primary institutions, of whom 22 will go to technical institutes.

Applicants must be Kenyan citizens aged 45 years and below in possession of professional and academic certificates.

“Applicants applying for posts in primary schools must be holders of a P1 certificate. They should apply to TSC county directors in the county where a vacancy has been advertised and submit relevant academic and professional documents,” said Mrs Macharia.

However, those who applied earlier and were unsuccessful must apply afresh since a new merit list for 2015/2016 will be generated.

The TSC boss added that those applying for posts in post-primary institutions must be holders of a minimum of diploma in education and applications should be addressed to the secretary of the board of management of schools or institutions where the vacancy has been advertised and submit a copy to the TSC county director.

The TSC boss encouraged those with disabilities to apply and cautioned against direct applications to the commission, saying they would deal with TSC county selection panels and boards of management.