A group of unemployed P1 certificate teachers in Kenya has issued a strongly worded press statement, calling for immediate action from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and teachers’ unions after what they describe as ten years of exclusion from employment.
In the statement released on April 24, the teachers say they have “suffered in silence since 2015,” blaming policy changes by TSC for locking them out of the profession despite a reported national shortage of teachers.
The group highlighted what they termed as harsh realities facing them, including the risk of ageing out of employment eligibility.
Many say they were in their early 20s when they graduated, but are now in their mid-30s and approaching TSC’s 45-year age limit without ever being formally employed.
They also pointed to deepening poverty and mounting debts, noting that many families sold property and took loans to fund their training.
Some teachers went further to upgrade their qualifications to Diplomas as required by TSC, only to remain jobless while accumulating Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) arrears.
The teachers further described difficult working conditions for those forced into Board of Management (BOM) teaching roles, where they earn less than KSh15,000 per month.
In some cases, they said, they work alongside younger colleagues who are already employed by TSC under permanent and pensionable terms, leading to feelings of humiliation and exclusion, especially due to lack of access to benefits such as Social Health Authority (SHA) cover.
The statement also raised concerns about mental health challenges among affected teachers, citing cases of depression, family breakdowns and substance abuse linked to prolonged unemployment.
The group criticised the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) for what they termed as silence on their plight, accusing the union of failing to advocate for all teachers equally.
Among their key demands, the teachers are calling for a special recruitment exercise for all remaining P1 certificate holders, including a waiver on the age limit.
They also want compensation and structured absorption for those who upgraded their qualifications at high personal cost.
Additionally, they have urged KNUT to convene a national forum within 14 days to address their grievances publicly and called for immediate psychosocial support programs to assist affected individuals.
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“We are not failures. The system failed us,” the statement reads in part, adding that they remain ready to serve if given the opportunity.
The demands now pile pressure on education stakeholders, including TSC and unions, to address long-standing concerns over teacher employment and policy direction in Kenya’s education sector.
By Philip Koech
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