Education stakeholders and leaders from Garissa County have urged Form 4 leavers to enroll for teacher training courses in a bid to solve the issue of teacher shortage in the region.
Speaking at a Garissa hotel on Saturday during the Garissa branch KNUT AGM, Garissa governor Nathif Jama said there was a dire need for locals in the region to take education courses as teachers from other regions are reluctant to teach in Garrisa.
The numbers are very low, which has directly contributed to the teacher shortage, he said.
Recently there was a mass exodus of teachers from the region.
The distressed governor said students from the region have shunned the Teacher Training courses even after his administration pledged to give scholarships for pursuing the courses and as a result putting the county in a difficult situation in terms of education.
“We have Garissa Teachers’ Training College here, we cannot keep blaming teachers from other regions for refusing to go to schools in places like Hulugho or other interior areas in the county because our young people have refused to enrol for teaching courses,
“We have tried to speak to young people and even introduced affirmative action and sponsorship for teacher training courses here but no one takes up the offer.
If our own do not want to teach our children, why are we blaming others for refusing to teach here?” the Governor posed.
At the same time, the Kenya Union of Teachers (KNUT) Assistant National Treasurer Mr. Kullo Mohamed Sheikh, called on the government to boost the security in the region to enhance education.
“There has been a problem with the security of our teachers in the North Eastern region.
I ask the government to put more effort into protecting our teachers.
If the government sincerely wants to support education here, it should up the security measures so that our teachers feel secure.
The Buses transporting teachers during the opening and closing of schools should also be escorted by police in these areas especially the Nairobi – Mandera and Wajir – Mandera routes,” Mohamed said.
By Vostine Ratemo
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