TSC Set To Employ 37,000 New Teachers Next Financial Year

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is set to employ 37,000 teachers in the next financial year. The teachers will help with the double transition in secondary schools.

Of the 37,000 teachers, according to a report, 25,000 will be employed on a permanent basis, while 12,000 will be on internship.

The move is aimed at managing the double transition to secondary schools, according to a budget policy statement presented to the National Assembly’s Committee on Education.

According to the commission, led by CEO Nancy Macharia, submitted a policy statement to the National Assembly’s Committee indicating that their budget will range at around Ksh13.15 billion. Ksh10.75 billion will be used to recruit permanent teachers while Ksh2.4 billion will be used to hire interns.

The transition will see the current grade four and Standard Six pupils transit to junior secondary and form one, respectively, in 2023.

“The current Grade Four and Standard Six pupils will transit to Junior Secondary and Form One respectively, in 2023. This will lead to higher enrollment which will call for additional teachers,” Macharia stated

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TSC To Hire 5000 Interns Ahead Of 100% Transition To Secondary

According to TSC chairperson Lydia Nzomo’s exit report, the teacher shortage stood at 47,750 in post-primary institutions before the implementation of The 100-percent transition policy.

In its 2019-2023 strategic plan, TSC planned to hire 12,626 new teachers per year to bridge the gap. However, this might prove to be an uphill task since more than 10,000 teachers leave the serve via retirement and natural attrition every year.

Macharia also highlighted the need to train the teachers to enable them to specialize in teaching at senior secondary schools. The commission said it would need Ksh1 billion to actualize it.

A total of 25,000 teachers would also be trained on the School-Based Teacher Support System (SBTSS) under the Secondary Education Quality Improvement (SEQIP) Project.

“I urge the new board to follow up of TSC proposals to parliament for budgetary allocation to employ 25,000 teachers in the next financial year,” said outgoing TSC chairperson Lydia Nzomo. TSC also plans to spend Ksh1 billion in training teachers on a Competency-based Curriculum (CBC).

Macharia clarified that the commission would not consider such action owing to the challenges arising from Covid-19. She added that the Commission, therefore, wishes to assure teachers that it does not plan to effect any mass transfers as alleged in a newspaper story

She said that teachers must be left to continue conducting their normal teaching duties and conduct national examinations without any interference. Meanwhile, she urges the media to always report accurately.