A teacher from Bomet County has raised concern over the growing mental health crisis affecting Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers employed under the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) contractual system.
Evalyne Chepkirui Sanguya,a teacher of Siwot Secondary School, says the model — characterised by low pay and frequent contract renewals — is pushing many educators into anxiety, stress, and burnout.
Under the current terms, graduate teachers earn about Ksh 17,000, a salary she describes as “demoralising and unsustainable” considering the workload and expectations placed on them.
Sanguya , who is also Bomet KUPPET Branch Gender Secretary Aspirant, notes that job insecurity under the contract-based arrangement has led to a host of negative outcomes, including low motivation, reduced job satisfaction, and limited access to benefits or opportunities for career progression.
She warns that the situation has also contributed to high turnover rates and an emerging brain drain within the education sector as teachers seek more stable employment elsewhere.
According to Sanguya, the TSC’s continued renewal of contracts without a clear roadmap toward permanent and pensionable terms has intensified frustrations among teachers.
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“The uncertainty is affecting teachers’ emotional well-being, their productivity in class, and even their family stability,” she said.
She adds that there has been a rise in cases of depression, stress-related illnesses, and even suicides among teachers grappling with the pressure of insecure employment.
Her sentiments come at a time when education observers agree that the contractual employment model is not only harmful to teachers but also detrimental to learners.
The frequent exits of teachers disrupt the continuity of learning, resulting in inconsistencies that affect students’ overall performance.
Sanguya is now calling for urgent reforms in the teacher employment structure, urging the government and TSC to adopt a more sustainable and supportive model that ensures educators receive fair pay, job security, and a clear path to career growth.
“It is time to restore dignity and stability within the teaching profession,” she said, warning that without action, the quality of education and the well-being of teachers will continue to decline.
By Philip Koech
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