World teachers' day: what do they have to celebrate?

By Wachira Kigotho

Today (Wednesday 5^{th October) is the World Teachers’ Day and the teaching professionals in Kenya are faced with both good and bad as they celebrate their day. The good news is that the Government has implemented the negotiated deal to put contract teachers on permanent terms, but the fact that parents and the Government are expecting teachers in public schools to do their best in places that are literally falling apart isn’t good news.}

According to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), more than 47 per cent of primary schools are in a state of disrepair to an extent of almost crumbling. However, the looming crisis is that of teacher shortage where about 70,000 teachers are urgently needed if we have to cater for the soaring enrolment created by the free primary education programme, introduced in 2003.