- The Elgeyo Marakwet County Assembly Education Committee has decried delays in recruiting 140 teachers and instructors and has demanded the CPSB explain the holdup by August 17.
- Committee chairperson Christopher Cheboiboch has confirmed that the Education Department submitted its recruitment indent and Finance confirmed funds, yet no hiring has taken place since the July 1 deadline.
- The committee has warned that continued staffing shortages, including three ECDE centres in Emsoo Ward without teachers, could disrupt learning when schools reopen on August 26.
The Elgeyo Marakwet County Assembly Education Committee has decried delays in the recruitment of 140 teachers and instructors, warning that the situation could affect learning when schools reopen later this month.
The committee wants the County Public Service Board (CPSB) to explain by August 17 why it has not recruited 100 ECDE teachers and 40 VTC instructors despite funds being available.
Committee chairperson Christopher Cheboiboch said the recruitment was supposed to have been completed by July 1 following an agreement involving the CPSB and the county departments of Education and Finance.
“We had a joint meeting with the board, the departments of education and finance and all parties agreed that the recruitment would conclude by July 1 this year, but no hiring has taken place to date,” he said.
Cheboiboch, who is the Emsoo Ward MCA, said the Education Department had submitted the required recruitment indent and the Finance Department had confirmed availability of funds.
He questioned why the recruitment had stalled despite the completion of the necessary procedures.
The committee has now demanded a detailed report from the CPSB outlining the reasons for the delay and measures being taken to complete the exercise.
Cheboiboch said the committee was also concerned that officials from the Education Department failed to appear before it after being summoned to provide an update on the recruitment.
ALSO READ:
Proposed law introduces savings scheme for parents planning for children’s tertiary education
He warned that the staffing crisis could be particularly damaging in areas already experiencing teacher shortages.
“In my ward, three ECDE centres are operating without teachers,” he said, adding that continued shortages could disrupt learning and compromise the quality of early childhood education.
With schools expected to reopen on August 26, the committee said urgent action was needed to ensure ECDE centres and VTCs have adequate personnel.
“The children of Elgeyo Marakwet deserve urgent service delivery, and these jobs must be filled immediately,” Cheboiboch said.
ALSO READ: New entry requirements for teacher training applicants under proposed law
The latest dispute also highlights long-running concerns over the welfare of ECDE teachers in the county. Teachers have previously demonstrated and marched to the Governor’s Office in Iten to protest unstable employment contracts and push for conversion to permanent and pensionable terms.
The committee said strengthening staffing in ECDE centres remained a priority because early childhood education provides the foundation for the wider education system.
Elgeyo Marakwet has invested in initiatives such as free early childhood education and digital learning in several centres, but staffing disparities continue to affect some areas of the county.
By Kimutai Langat
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
