The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is facing criticism from lawmakers for not hiring teachers over the age of 45. During a discussion prompted by Soy MP David Kiplagat, the MPs insisted that TSC should appear before the Education Committee to explain the delays in employing these educators.
Kiplagat and his colleagues argued that even if teachers are just two years away from retirement, TSC should still hire them since they are qualified. Kiplagat stated, “Honourable Speaker, I request a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education regarding the number of registered teachers over 45 who are currently unemployed by TSC, including their graduation years, registration years, current ages, and distribution across the country.”
He further requested a report detailing how many teachers over 45 were recently hired by TSC, along with their distribution, the efforts made to implement affirmative action for this age group, and the plans TSC has to revise its recruitment framework to prevent delays in hiring and late entry into the profession.
In response, Education Committee Chairperson and Tinderet MP Julius Melly announced that TSC would be invited to discuss the issue, emphasizing the committee’s concern over the number of teachers who have been unable to secure employment due to the age limit. He remarked, “Even if it’s just for two weeks, teachers need to be employed.”
This request for clarification comes shortly after TSC faced scrutiny over the promotion of 151,611 teachers. MPs claimed that TSC favored those who scored 80 percent in interviews over those who achieved 100 percent.
In Parliament, Kiplagat expressed disappointment that despite a 2019 ruling by the Employment and Labour Relations Court declaring TSC’s 45-year age limit for teacher recruitment unconstitutional and discriminatory, TSC has not complied with the order to hire teachers over 45 without age restrictions. He lamented that many qualified teachers aged 45 and above continue to face discrimination in the hiring process.
Kiplagat noted, “This group of teachers has consistently applied for jobs and met all recruitment criteria, yet they are still overlooked. This is particularly concerning given the severe teacher shortage in Kenya, with over 110,000 vacancies reported in 2023, including a shortfall of 72,422 teachers in junior secondary schools alone, while more than 350,000 qualified teachers remain unemployed, many of whom are over 45.”
He concluded by calling for affirmative action from TSC to provide employment opportunities for these teachers before they reach the mandatory retirement age of 60, as their exclusion from recruitment has led to frustration and disillusionment.
