The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) intends to move an additional 18,194 teachers from public primary schools to understaffed locations.
On the announcement of the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results at Moi Girls High School Eldoret, TSC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nancy Macharia said the move is to ensure a balanced distribution of teachers across the country.
Macharia explained that the implementation of the Competency Curriculum (CBC) in Primary and Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) had an impact on staffing levels.
The abolition of two classes (standard 7 and 8) in primary schools has significantly reduced the demand for teachers at this level.
“We are continuing to review our practices and staffing levels at both primary and secondary levels to ensure that teachers are evenly distributed across the country.
We note that, for example, the deployment of CBC in our primary and junior schools has shifted staffing levels,” she said.
Primary school classrooms were reduced by two (Standard 7 and 8).
As a result, requirements for primary school teachers have been drastically reduced, resulting in over 18,194 staff.
The commission will reallocate all these teachers to schools so that all institutions have a balanced and lower teacher-to-student ratio,” Macharia added.
The TSC CEO also addressed the staffing issue in junior high schools, noting a shortage of 42,117 teachers at the Grade 8 level due to an increase of one class in 2024.
The current demand for teachers is 99,045 while the current supply is 56,928.
Macharia disclosed that TSC has requested funds for an additional 20,000 teachers to be hired in the coming fiscal year.
