Mushrooming of schools makes teachers shortage worse, says TSC

TSC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nancy Macharia. [Washington Onyango, Kisumu]

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has said mushrooming of schools in the country has contributed to the shortage of teachers.

According to TSC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nancy Macharia, mushrooming of schools is putting pressure on the existing facilities, which are not enough for learners.

Speaking at the National Schools Conference in Kisumu yesterday, she said although TSC is to ensure optimal staffing in every school, teachers shortage has been compounded by mushrooming of schools and enrolment of students as a result of 100 per cent transition directive by the Ministry of Education.

Dr Macharia said mushrooming of schools is only advisable in hardship areas because the institutions are far apart. She said upcoming schools near those that already have over 100 per cent enrolment is making staffing complicated.

“For example a girls’ school and a mixed school within the same locality. The girls’ school is very well enrolled, while the mixed school has one stream that has only 50 students. In this case, those children need teachers because they are learning the whole curriculum as well.

“So what happens is we get a headteacher and two other teachers from the girls’ school, and as a result understaff the girls’ school which also needs all those teachers,” Macharia explained.

“Meanwhile, the ministry takes a chemistry teacher to that mixed school yet it does not even have a laboratory.”

She said mushrooming of schools should be contained to enable TSC to staff one school well to take care of the catchment of a particular area.

Macharia said despite the 100 per cent transition, TSC receives funds every year to recruit only 5,000 teachers.

She some parts of the country have lately become extremely challenging due to environmental conditions, insecurity caused by ethnic wrangling, banditry, terrorism, among others.

School heads at Sheikh Zayed Centre in Mombasa during the 17th delegates conference, December 28, 2021. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

“Posting and retaining teachers in such areas present unprecedented issues, which at times force TSC to withdraw such teachers to a safer environment,” she said.

The TSC boss asked school heads to avoid recruiting persons not registered with the commission to ensure the quality of education is maintained.

Macharia said both public and private schools have continued to employ unregistered teachers under the Board of Management (BOM).

She said they are unable to take action on those persons when they abuse children because they are not registered teachers.

She raised concerns on increased cases of female teachers sexually abusing their students.

“This has paused a challenge, especially when such teachers engage in immoral behaviour and members of public expect TSC to act. It is time you stopped employing persons who are not registered as teachers,” she said.