Tom (not his real name) stands before his Grade Seven class, chalk in hand, but his eyes flicker constantly toward the phone tucked inside his jacket pocket. He has a live bet running – the final minutes of a European match he knows little about but desperately hopes will save the money he lost overnight. His voice trails off mid-sentence. The students, sensing the distraction, fidget and lose focus. A golden opportunity to ignite young minds slips quietly away.
Just when education stakeholders thought they had slain the alcoholism dragon, another monster has emerged – gambling. And this time, it is striking even harder and deeper at the heart of the teaching profession. Isolated but alarming cases of teachers taking their own lives after losing salaries and loans to betting apps like Aviator have surfaced. Gambling is the new addiction in town, stealthily replacing alcohol and drugs as the silent predator among educators.
A quiet crisis is unfolding in our schools – one so subtle at first glance, yet so destructive when left unchecked. It creeps into staffrooms and classrooms, masked by the excitement of small wins and the false promise of easy wealth. It is the slow but deadly spread of gambling addiction among teachers. And its consequences are devastating.
Teaching is not merely a job; it is a sacred calling. Every teacher bears the noble duty of shaping character, inspiring dreams, and lighting the way for future generations. But today, too many educators are losing sight of this mission, sucked into endless cycles of online betting that rob them of their time, creativity, and dignity. What starts as a harmless wager during break time spirals into an obsession that consumes the evenings, weekends, and even moments inside the classroom.
The classroom demands full presence, emotional engagement, and thoughtful preparation. A teacher preoccupied with fluctuating odds and live scores is half-present at best, disengaged at worst. Students quickly sense the difference. Lessons lose their fire, feedback becomes shallow, and mentorship disappears. Precious opportunities to change lives are lost while gambling apps are refreshed and desperate bets are placed.
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The emotional toll is equally crushing. Gambling is a cruel master, offering brief, intoxicating highs followed by crushing waves of defeat. Teachers caught in this web suffer hidden burdens – anxiety, guilt, and depression that sap the very qualities good teaching depends on: patience, empathy, and optimism. Students who look to their teachers for encouragement encounter instead frustration, absence, and emotional exhaustion.
Financial ruin lurks not far behind. Some teachers find their salaries gone within hours of payday. Loans balloon. Debts pile up. Living hand-to-mouth becomes a painful reality for educators who once dreamed of stable, dignified lives. It is almost impossible for a teacher battling private financial chaos to inspire young people to reach for the stars.
Worse still, gambling addiction threatens the moral authority that underpins the teaching profession. Teaching demands not only knowledge but exemplary conduct – discipline, self-control, and leadership by example. When teachers gamble irresponsibly, they risk eroding the trust that binds school communities together. What starts as casual betting can slide dangerously into unethical practices – mishandling funds, lying to administrators, or manipulating records to cover debts. It is not just money that is lost; it is respect, honor, and the very soul of teaching.
We can no longer afford to turn a blind eye. This crisis calls for a collective, urgent response. Schools must create safe spaces where teachers battling gambling addictions can seek help without fear of stigma. Financial wellness programs, mental health counseling, and strong mentorship structures must be part of every serious staff development agenda. To ignore the issue is to watch silently as the pillars of education crack from within.
Governments, too, must play their role. The betting industry must be more tightly regulated – its seductive advertisements, easy access, and relentless promotion among vulnerable populations must be curbed. The reckless targeting of teachers and youth with promises of instant wealth is nothing short of predatory.
But perhaps most importantly, change must come from within the profession itself. Teachers must confront the hard truth: gambling is not a harmless distraction; it is a thief that steals dreams, dignity, and destiny. Every moment spent chasing a bet is a moment stolen from a lesson plan. Every shilling lost to an online game is a resource taken away from a personal dream or family need.
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It is time for teachers to reclaim their calling with renewed vigor. To rise above the empty promises of betting apps and recapture the deeper, more enduring fulfillment that comes from changing lives and building futures. Our children, our communities, and our country depend on teachers who are present, passionate, and principled.
Gambling offers fleeting thrills and inevitable heartbreak. Teaching offers something infinitely greater – the lasting joy of lighting a torch that will continue burning long after we are gone. Let us choose wisely. Let us stand tall. Let us, once again, be the trustworthy custodians of hope and ambition that our students so desperately need.
By Kamomonti wa Kiambati
Kamomonti teaches English and Literature in Gatundu North Sub County.
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