Thousands of university graduate teachers who successfully undertook verification process for internships with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) are in anguish after being locked out at the final stages of the recruitment process.
Applicants in Nairobi were taken a back after they were suddenly asked to provide proof of birth or voter registration within specific sub-counties.
The proof had not been among the requirements communicated by TSC sub-county officials upon notifying the applicants of their successful applications.
Among the documents required were birth certificates, marriage certificates, property title deeds, and electoral cards.
“You are therefore required to submit evidence to prove that you are hailing from Westlands. Avail documents for evidence on Friday, 11th August at 8 am latest noon,” read a text sent to one of the graduate teachers who had applied for an internship opportunity for Junior Secondary School in Westlands Sub-County.
A number of applicants who were turned away expressed their distress after weeks of preparation yielded no results.
TSC had previously issued comprehensive recruitment guidelines for the process.
Last month, the commission called for applications from eligible candidates to fill 20,000 teacher internship vacancies.
Of the total, 18,000 intern teachers were to be assigned to Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), while the remaining 2,000 would be deployed to primary schools to support the implementation of new curricula.
Successful candidates for JSS positions would be expected to teach various subjects within the curriculum and would receive a monthly stipend of Ksh20, 000.
Those teaching in primary schools would earn Ksh15, 000.
TSC Executive director Nancy Macharia said the apprenticeship agreement was designed to equip and support the skills of those entering the teaching service and those leaving after one year.
“This program aims to identify registered unemployed teachers to institutions where their teaching experience will be improved through mentoring, coaching and exposure to practical learning experiences,” Macharia said.
According to TSC, JSS teachers must have at least C+ (Plus) in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and C+ (Plus) in each of the two teaching subjects.
Applicants to teach in primary schools must have a P1 certificate.
By Thuita Jaswant
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