Primary head teachers ask government to introduce volunteer teachers

Primary head teachers follow proceedings during the first day in their conference at Sheikh Zayed School in Mombasa. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD]

MOMBASA, KENYA: Primary schools heads are calling on the Government to introduce volunteer teachers' programme to bridge teacher shortage in the country.

Currently, there is a shortfall of 90,000 teachers in public schools and the headteachers warned Monday that the gap could widen further because of the rise in enrolment and improvement in retention and transition rates in schools.

Speaking at the beginning of a six-day conference in Mombasa, the heads said the Government should come up with innovative ways, including the introduction of volunteer teacher module to plug the deficit.

"The new Constitution amplified the need for education of our children and the challenge is funding. That is why teachers need to change their approach to funding and instead of threats and demands to the Government, use innovative means like looking for sponsorships and twinning with internationals schools who in turn will assist," said Prof Henry Embeywa.

The teachers also deliberated on other innovate ways of financing the education sector and explored ways, including twinning agreements with learning institutions from developed countries.

Embeywa said through twinning with international learning institutions, the schools could benefit from textbooks and other learning materials, including computers.

He said the connotation that education was free in the country has had negative psychological effects on parents, noting that some of them have absconded their obligation of educating their children by leaving the burden to the Government and teachers.

"It should be made clear that what the Government is paying for is tuition fee and there are other expenses that need to be met. Free education has its limitations," said Prof Embeywa who is a lecturer at Mount Kenya University.

The don said schools heads should formulate strategies of luring private firms to support education, adding that the Private Public Partnership would solve the funding problem, given the Government's budgetary constraints.

CASH CRUNCH

The Government currently pays tuition fee amounting to Sh1,500 per pupil per year, half of the Sh3, 000 stipulated by law. Teachers say that delays in the disbursement of the allocation has affected co-curriculum activities in schools.

The head teachers said that 30 per cent of the fee meant for the second term arrived in schools' accounts two week to the end term.

Kenya Primary Schools Head Teachers Association (Kepsha) Chairman Joseph Karuga said teacher volunteer system will help the Government solve persistent teacher shortages in the country.

"We appreciate that the Government is in the process of hiring an additional 10,000 teachers but that is a drop in the ocean. There is need for State to introduce ways to attract volunteer teachers," said Karuga.

He said the scheme will bring on board retired teachers and even third year students, adding this will help solve teacher shortage in schools.

The Kepsha chair said head teachers were not opposed to the hiring of retired teachers, but added that this should be assessed on a case by case basis so not all retirees are brought back.

"We don't have a problem with hiring senior or older teachers because they come with experience but those to be hired should be interviewed and found suitable," said Karuga.