- Silvia Krop, a trained P1 teacher from Baringo Central, seeks employment before retirement after years of waiting.
- The union has urged the government to prioritise older unemployed teachers and expand recruitment budgets.
- Transition to Competency‑Based Curriculum and preference for diploma holders have reduced chances for P1 certificate holders.
Silvia Krop, a trained P1 teacher from Baringo Central, has made a heartfelt appeal to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), asking to be considered for employment before reaching retirement age after years of waiting for an opportunity to serve in public schools.
Silvia, who resides in Koimur, Elgeyo Marakwet County, said she has remained patient despite spending many years seeking a teaching post. “I have never lost hope. I respectfully ask the Teachers Service Commission to consider my case and allow me to serve Kenyan learners before my retirement age,” she said.
Her plea reflects the frustrations of many qualified P1 teachers who remain unemployed despite holding professional teaching certificates. The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has been vocal on the matter, pushing for affirmative action to prioritise older jobless teachers, particularly those aged 45 years and above.
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KNUT Secretary‑General Collins Oyuu has previously urged the government to increase budget allocations for teacher recruitment and to give priority to those who have remained unemployed for decades. Education stakeholders note that the transition to the Competency‑Based Curriculum (CBC) and the preference for diploma holders in recent recruitment drives have further limited opportunities for P1 certificate holders.
For Silvia, teaching is more than a profession; it is a calling. “I only wish to get the opportunity to contribute to the education of our children. Teaching has always been my calling,” she added.
The Teachers Service Commission continues to recruit teachers through competitive processes, requiring qualified but unemployed educators to register and regularly update their records as they await recruitment. For many like Silvia, however, time is running out, and the hope is that the Commission will act before retirement closes the door on their lifelong dream of serving in classrooms.
By Kimutai Langat
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