The Teacher Service Commission confirmed Monday that it is recruiting new teachers in North Eastern Kenya following a reported mass exodus of instructors from the region.
Last month, Hundreds of teachers from Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties are said to have refused to report to their duty stations citing increased cases of insecurity. The situation, according to the Commission’s Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia, left the teachers’ employer with no choice but enlist new ones for the job.
Macharia says those qualified and interested in the job can make their application any time stating that the vacancies are there to be filled.
“Today, if you are a teacher, can you go a get a form from a county director in those areas and get teaching” she said in Mombasa while supervising the distribution of KCSE examination
“We recruit teachers for North Eastern throughout the year to replace those who have left. North Eastern is the only place that we do not close recruitment of teachers,” added the TSC boss.
She encouraged locals to fill the existing teacher shortage in public primary and secondary schools, even as reports indicate North Eastern region needs more than 2,000 teachers.
Those who quit were interdicted on grounds that they deserted their duties and the commission has since commenced investigation into their conduct.
TSC however maintains they are not fired, but rather, are facing suspension over conduct.
“The due process is being followed,” said Macharia in Mombasa.
Macharia said the TSC will continue to recruit more teachers for the North-Eastern region throughout the year.
Macharia said Kenya still has a shortage of Islamic Religious Education, and Physics among other key subjects.
“It is not that we do not have teachers to recruit, but due to inadequate resources. If we get adequately funded, we will recruit more teachers to fill those gaps,” said Macharia.
