To help fill the staffing gap in public primary and post primary learning institutions, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has begun the recruitment process for a total of 14,460 teachers.
The TSC has posted the information about the shortlisted applicants for positions in special needs and secondary schools on its website.
The Commission is taking this action for the first time, demonstrating its commitment to increasing transparency throughout the recruiting process. In-county interviews and document vetting are now underway, and successful applicants will be employed in accordance with the timeline listed on the TSC website.
According to TSC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nancy Macharia, the new teachers will also assist in supporting the 100% transition policy.
In a media advertisement, Dr Macharia said 5,000 teachers will be posted to public primary, secondary and training institutions on permanent and pensionable terms of service.
Secondary schools will get 3,972 teachers while 1,000 will be posted to primary schools and 28 to teach training colleges.
“Successful candidates will be posted to serve in any part of the country and not necessarily in the county or school where they were interviewed,” Dr Macharia said.
Merit lists generated during the recruitment for both primary and post primary institutions will be used in subsequent recruitment processes within the financial year, the statement read.
To further ease the burden and improve learning standards, the TSC said it will replace 8,230 teachers who left the service through natural attrition. Of these, 6,539 teachers will be posted to primary and 1,691 to secondary schools.
The announcement was a positive step towards addressing the deficit of more than 100,000 teachers facing primary and post primary institutions nationwide.
Dr Macharia recently said the government was committed to ensure there were enough teachers to handle the huge number of learners joining secondary schools. She added that priority will be given to sub-county secondary schools, which admit the bulk of learners.
“It is our determination as a Commission to ensure that the 100 per cent transition policy succeeds to guarantee all children their basic right to education,” said Dr Macharia.
In Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties, the Commission also intends to hire 844 teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, including 764 for primary schools and 80 for secondary schools.
The Commission also intends to hire 386 teachers on contract in the hard to staff areas. 114 teachers will be assigned to primary schools, and 272 to high schools.
The TSC requirements state that qualified candidates must be Kenyan citizens who have registered with the Commission.
P1 certificates are required for candidates applying to teach in primary schools, whereas Bachelor’s degrees in education are required for candidates applying to teach in secondary and technical colleges, respectively.
The TSC emphasized that the recruitment procedure is cost-free while warning potential applicants against falling victim to fraudsters.
