Performance of teachers in public schools below par

Kenya: Despite taking a huge share of the National Budget, too many teachers are asleep on the job, and unless shaken out of their slumber, the road to Vision 2030 could be just another illusion. That would be a pity.

Today, the country has over 10 million children of school-going age, or 50 per cent of the next decades’ youth bulge. The quality of education that they get will determine Kenya’s future prosperity.

The key word here is quality. It isn’t enough to herd children into classrooms like sheep. On that score, the previous Government did a commendable job. It expanded the country’s primary education from 5.9 million in 2002, to 10 million this year.

Unfortunately, the quality of education went to the dogs during the period. The public primary schools became factories of mediocrity. And contrary to conventional wisdom, their poor academic performance is not necessarily a result of poverty, but largely an outcome of absenteeism by teachers on the Teachers Service Commission’s payroll. Many might be in school or even in class, but they don’t teach.

Quality issues

A damning World Bank report says only 55 per cent of 100 teachers in public primary schools are in class teaching. An analysis of teachers’ absenteeism showed that 27 per cent report to work but don’t teach, as do two per cent who attended class.

Their absence was higher among those on permanent employment who teach higher grades and are also born in the same districts in which their schools are located.

Male teachers are 64 per cent more likely to be absent from class compared to females on contract. Clearly, education authorities should post teachers away from their home districts, adopt affirmative action to recruit female teachers on contract terms whenever possible and step up impromptu school inspections throughout the country.

Needless to say, such inspections should not be used for promotions or any preferential treatment. Obviously, teachers will oppose any moves to make them more accountable, but the Government has to make it clear the issue is non-negotiable as is the need for teachers to be tested for competence.

The teachers’ failure to master even elementary mathematics is putting at risk Kenya’s ambitious plan to turn its economy into one driven by science and technology. Perhaps, not surprisingly, the study showed a massive disconnect between the country’s expenditure on education and learning outcomes. Gaps in teachers’ knowledge and the little time spent teaching means that pupils are leaving school half-baked.

A report by Uwezo Kenya reveals that over 50 out of 100 children in Classes Four and Five can’t understand stories written for Class Two pupils. The study found that school-age children are not acquiring basic competencies in literacy and numeracy at the right age or grades.

The Government must enforce accountability among teachers and head teachers in all public schools.

It can take a headcount of all teachers, interviewig them afresh and send the incorrigible ones packing before employing new ones.