The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has advised the Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) to refrain from producing primary school teachers due to an absence of available teaching positions.
This information was presented by TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia during her attendance at the National Assembly Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee meeting yesterday.
The issue of unemployed trained teachers was prominently raised when Karemba Muchangi, who is leading the committee, queried why numerous graduates remain jobless despite a substantial shortage of teachers in various counties.
Macharia stated that the Commission has recommended that colleges halt their admissions, as there is a surplus of primary school teachers on the payroll and within the job market.
“Following curriculum changes that resulted in the elimination of Standards 6, 7, and 8, we found ourselves with an excess of teachers in certain primary schools. We have discouraged the training of additional primary teachers; nevertheless, colleges continue to do so,” Macharia elucidated.
It is unlikely that colleges will adhere to this recommendation, as compliance would jeopardize their existence since trainee primary school teachers form the backbone of their enrollment.
Macharia had previously indicated that the Commission possesses an excess of 18,072 primary school teachers.
This surplus of teachers arose from the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), which removed two class levels (Class 7 and 8).
However, TSC has commenced the process of redeploying surplus primary school teachers to junior secondary and special schools.
She articulated that this action will assist in alleviating shortages within both junior secondary and special schools and units.
Macharia noted that Special Needs Schools nationwide are facing a deficit of 5,362 teachers.
Regarding junior secondary, she specified that the Commission requires 72,422 teachers to address the staffing shortfall.
She further indicated that both junior and senior secondary levels, which are set to begin in January 2026, necessitate an additional 98,261 teachers to effectively implement CBC.
A considerable number of primary school teachers holding Primary Teacher Education (PTE) certificates, as well as others with a Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE), are still awaiting employment from TSC.
Some PTE teachers have returned to college to upgrade their qualifications to UDPTE to meet CBC requirements and enhance their employment prospects.
Frustrated P1 teachers have committed to protesting at the TSC Upper Hill offices to demand their employment.
It is a disheartening situation as some PTE teachers graduated in 2012, yet they have not secured employment from TSC.
TSC has redirected its focus on teacher employment towards junior and senior secondary schools. Currently, TSC is prioritizing the hiring of secondary school teachers who possess either a Diploma or Degree.
In the past two years, there has been no extensive recruitment of primary school teachers, with hiring taking place only on a replacement basis.
The recent backdoor replacements of teachers by TSC have further intensified the frustrations experienced by teachers.
However, Macharia has refuted these allegations and distanced the Commission from employment letters that were supposedly issued by politicians.
The Commission’s CEO faced accusations yesterday of abdicating her responsibility for teacher appointments to politicians through the improper issuance of employment letters to them for distribution.
Macharia contended that the allegations were untrue and that she had simply encountered them in the “papers. ”
“…I encountered this article in the newspapers. Should you visit our website, you will find information regarding our hiring process. Nonetheless, I am concerned as these incidents are detrimental to TSC’s reputation,” she articulated.
The issue was brought to attention by Matungu MP Oscar Nabulindo, who questioned the rationale behind cabinet secretaries distributing employment letters during political events.
Chairperson Karemba advocated for a rectification of this situation.
“I believe that we are establishing a very unfavorable precedent if the recruitment of teachers is dependent on the political elite. It is our duty to bring this matter to an end,” he asserted.
‘Sufficient’ TSC instructs TTCs to halt the training of primary educators.
