Kenya’s public primary schools are grappling with a shrinking teaching workforce at a time when the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system is placing unprecedented demands on classrooms.
According to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Economic Survey 2025, the number of teachers fell by 3.2 per cent between 2023 and 2024, dropping from 219,727 to 212,602. This represents a net loss of 7,125 teachers within a single year, this is the steepest decline since 2020.
The decline is most visible among degree-level teachers. Their numbers, which had risen steadily from 17,930 in 2020 to 28,226 in 2023, fell sharply by 20.5 per cent to 25,257 in 2024. That decline of 2,969 teachers comes just as Kenya’s first cohort of Grade 6 learners transitioned into Junior school, intensifying the need for highly qualified staff. Certificate-level teachers also recorded a drop, from 148,525 in 2023 to 146,500 in 2024, underscoring the wider attrition across the profession.
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Attrition has been linked to retirements, study leave, disciplinary dismissals and natural exits. Yet reforms introduced by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in 2017 also played a role, encouraging P1 teachers to pursue diplomas under new promotion pathways. This shift is reflected in training statistics: enrollment in public primary teacher colleges surged from 24,262 in 2023 to 36,282 in 2024, while overall trainee numbers rose by 18.3 per cent to 41,154. Diploma-level teachers peaked at 40,916 in 2023 before easing slightly to 38,917 in 2024, partly due to redeployment into Junior school.
By 2024, Kenya had 24,213 registered public primary schools serving 10.7 million learners, 8.2 million in primary and 2.5 million in Junior school. Junior school staffing stood at 20,495 teachers, with bachelor’s degree holders forming the overwhelming majority at 92.4 per cent (18,942). Masters and Doctorate holders numbered 94, while postgraduate diploma holders stood at 18.
The decline in degree-level teachers coincides with a looming shortage in STEM pathways under CBE. Projections show that Senior school will require 58,600 additional teachers, with 35,111 needed in technical subjects alone. More than 60 per cent of learners opted for STEM in the inaugural Kenya Junior School Education Assessment, yet specialised areas such as Aviation, Marine Science, Physics and Chemistry remain critically underserved.
Early retooling sessions for teachers have been criticised as too brief, raising concerns about preparedness for modern laboratories, IT equipment and project-based learning.
At the secondary and college levels, the pursuit of higher qualifications has been evident. Between 2020 and 2024, bachelor-level teachers grew modestly from 108,109 to 111,702, while diploma holders expanded from 3,310 to 13,401. Masters and Doctorate holders rose from 1,725 in 2020 to 6,224 in 2023 before dipping to 5,715 in 2024, reflecting shifting academic trajectories.
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The Ministry of Education has pledged to address the gap, with Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announcing that 24,000 new teachers will be recruited this year, bringing the total number hired in three years to 100,000.
Ogamba added that KSh1.6 billion has been allocated for teacher capacity building and KSh1 billion for promotions. Ogamba emphasised that the senior secondary phase will nurture learners’ intellectual abilities through personalised and holistic approaches, preparing adaptable professionals for a dynamic job market. Ogamba also noted that recruitment will prioritise remote and marginalised areas, where high student-to-teacher ratios continue to undermine learning outcomes.
By Masaki Enock
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