By Michael Oduor
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Taita Taveta County Executive Secretary, Mr Lenox Mshila has urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to increase the number of teachers expected to be employed within a year.
Mshila said that following the announcement by TSC on the next employment of teachers, only 5,000 teachers are to be employed a figure which he said is a drop in the ocean.
“Teachers’ employment has been announced for next month but only 5,000 teachers will be recruited. That figure is like a drop of water in an ocean compared to the current demand,” lamented Mshila.
According to Mshila, there is shortage of teachers in most schools in the region and, therefore, the solution is to raise the employment figure to about 100,000 new teachers.
“Moving around our schools in the region, we’re facing great shortages of teachers. We need over 100,000 new teachers and everything will go well right from the CBC, 100% transition, among other learning issues,” he said.
“About CBC, we have shortages of both human resources and learning materials. It’s true this is a good programme and even as we pray for its success but the challenges are myriad and more is required as most of our institutions aren’t well equipped for the programme,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mshila has appealed for the locals’ employment to be the first priority.
“Teachers in our region have gone to college under very difficult circumstances, with some supported by the society and others being orphans and trained in Teachers Training Colleges (TTCs) that are marginalized with great hardships. They have, however, continuously missed employment chances severally and TSC should be fair as we cannot allow neglect,” he said.
He said that they love everyone but those from within the region should be given their share, adding that they have the capacity.
“I am appealing that the locals’ employment be the first priority. It’s sad that our own children who have gone to college under very difficult circumstances are jobless,” he said.
