The government has been asked to restructure the hiring and distribution of teachers at all levels nationally to avoid the present imbalances.
Parents in Embu County also want the education sector to be managed professionally to ensure that all parts of the country are treated equally in allocation of funds, distribution of teachers and equipping of institutions.
Commenting on claims by some legislators that the hiring and promotion of teachers and other civil servants seems to favour some regions through political patronage, the parents warned that fairness in education is needed because it shapes future foundations of nationalism.
The parents, mainly members of various schools committees at constituency levels in Manyatta, Runyenjes, Mbeere South and Mbeere North, asked the government to realize that with the education sector eating the largest chunk of the budget, accountability, transparency and equity are important.
John Muturi from Mbeere South, Joseph Mbogo from Mbeere North, and Peter Kamau and Hannah Mwangi from Runyenjes and Manyatta respectively said unless all Kenyan children are exposed to equal learning opportunities, skilled manpower inequalities would continue nationally.
“Fair distribution of teachers, funds and equipment from the government and the private sector will ensure that learners in Kenya gain equal education opportunities across the board,” said Kamau.
The parents noted that it is unfortunate that a large number of schools in Embu County grapple with teacher shortage amid a growing population of teachers who graduated from college and universities but remain unemployed.
Despite budgetary allocations and assurances by the Cabinet Secretary that more teachers would be hired, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) have failed to move with speed to employ adequate teachers.
The parents wondered where the funds allocated to the TSC to hire teachers went and warned that Kenyans will continue to seek accountability of funds and fairness.
“We shall continue to seek for accountability in the funds and fair distribution of teachers to all parts of the country and our questions and protests should not be taken as empty attacks and criticisms of the government,” said Mwangi.
They wondered how the government expect the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) to succeed yet shortage of resources continue to assail schools.
“The CBC remains a skill-based curriculum requiring adequate and highly skilled teachers especially for JSS, yet the government continues to take inadequacy of teachers for granted,” noted Mbogo.
They asked the government to consider provision of learning materials digitally throughout the country to ensure that where books, teachers and other requisite equipment lack, learners are guided by the few teachers available and even their parents.
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