Author: Hezron Rooy

Over 350,000 Teachers Compete for 28,000 TSC Job Slots in January. Government Recruitment Drive In January, more than 350,000 unemployed teachers will compete for 28,000 job openings as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) initiates a new recruitment phase. This exercise includes 20,000 intern positions in junior secondary schools to address the teacher-to-learner ratio, a measure announced by President William Ruto in October. The remaining 8,707 roles are permanent and pensionable, intended to replace teachers who have exited the workforce through retirement, resignation, or death. Of these vacancies, 5,862 are allocated to primary schools, 21 to junior secondary schools, and 2,824…

How Teachers Can Secure Jobs in the US: Costs and Process for Teaching in the US. Teaching opportunities in the United States continue to draw interest from educators worldwide. In this article we explore the key requirements and processes that teachers need to fulfill before applying for teaching positions in the US. 1. Types of Visas for Teachers With a variety of visa options and support systems in place, educators can pursue their passion while expanding their professional horizons. If you’re a teacher dreaming of working in the U.S., here’s a guide to the steps and possibilities available to you.…

TSC Reshuffles 19 School Heads in Kakamega in Latest Transfers. Key Staff Movements Ahead of School Reopening The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has implemented a significant reshuffle of 19 secondary school heads in Kakamega County ahead of the January school reopening. The affected principals have exchanged positions with their counterparts within and outside the county. Among the notable changes, Jotham Abel, formerly at Hilario Wekhonye Secondary, moves to Silungai Secondary in Kakamega North, taking over from James Masinde Gilbert. George Onyango, previously the head at Ndakaru Secondary in Bungoma, assumes leadership at Solyo Secondary in Kakamega East, replacing Lugonzo Antony.…

CBC Textbook Crisis: KICD Delay Casts Doubt on Smooth School Reopening. Lack of Clarity on Approved Course Books With the January 6, 2025 school reopening approaching, parents, teachers, and education stakeholders remain in the dark about which textbooks to buy or use. Many attribute the confusion to the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) for failing to release an approved list of course books for Grades Five, Six, Seven, and Eight. KICD, however, maintains there is no textbook crisis in the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). The institute insists that textbooks for all learning areas, from Pre-Primary One (PP1) to Grade Nine,…

Kenya’s Jobless Teachers: Dreams Dashed by Corruption and Delays. Teaching, one of Kenya’s most esteemed professions, serves as the backbone of societal development and progress. Teachers play a critical role in shaping learners’ minds and characters while nurturing creativity and critical thinking—skills essential in today’s rapidly evolving world. However, despite the pivotal role of teaching, systemic failures and corruption have left thousands of trained teachers in Kenya grappling with unemployment. Graduates with Shattered Hopes Every year, countless Kenyan universities and colleges produce thousands of graduates with aspirations of joining the teaching workforce. Unfortunately, these dreams are often deferred for years…

Parents Begin Early Preparations for School Reopening Amid Book Shortages. Parents and guardians have commenced early preparations ahead of school reopening scheduled for early next year. However, some bookshops are grappling with a shortage of books due to delayed supplies from publishers. This development has added to parents’ frustrations, as they also contend with rising prices for school essentials. Back-to-School Rush Kicks Off During Festive Season With the festive season still ongoing, the back-to-school rush is already in full swing. Book sellers have expressed concerns over the delayed supply of textbooks from publishers, citing a significant impact on their businesses.…

2024 Education Sector in Review: Highs, Lows, and Unresolved Issues The education sector remained a focal point of national debate in 2024, with challenges and achievements shaping the learning environment for students, teachers, and policymakers. From the ongoing implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) to funding struggles, the year highlighted the need for substantial reforms. Competency-Based Curriculum: A Divisive Issue The CBC dominated discussions in 2024, with stakeholders divided over its effectiveness. While the Ministry of Education emphasized its potential to develop practical skills, critics pointed to insufficient teacher training and the high costs borne by parents. Education officials acknowledged…

Muslim Leaders Advocate for Integration and Remuneration for Madrassa and Sunday School Teacher. Muslim leaders from the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) for the North Rift region and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Treasurer for Mombasa County are appealing to the government to introduce remuneration for madrassa and Sunday school teachers. Speaking in Eldoret, the clerics emphasized the need to formalize religious-based education to alleviate the burden on unemployed trained teachers in the country. Integration of Religious Education Their remarks follow a proposal by Daadab Member of Parliament Farah Maalim, who recently urged the national…

Corruption Threatens Kenya’s Education Funding: The Case of Manyatta Secondary School. Just 27 kilometers from the heart of Nairobi’s bustling city center lies Manyatta Secondary School, a grim representation of the disconnect between government funding and on-the-ground realities. Established in 2019 to ease the burden of long commutes for students in the Ruai area, Manyatta serves around 250 learners. However, its infrastructure highlights systemic failures in Kenya’s public education system, despite the allocation of significant funds from the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF). Millions Allocated, Minimal Impact In the 2021/22 financial year, Ksh.6.8 million was allocated for the construction…

TSC Denies Plans to Bar P1 Teachers in JSS Deployment. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) dismissed as fake a circulated notice that purportedly barred P1 teachers from teaching Junior Secondary School (JSS) classes. The fraudulent letter, dated December 27, 2024, and missing the signature of TSC Chief Executive Nancy Macharia, claimed that some primary school teachers had been deployed to JSS by Heads of Institutions (HOIs) against government directives. It stated that only TSC held the mandate to authorize teacher transitions to JSS. Addressed to county and sub-county directors, as well as curriculum support officers, the letter asserted that HOIs…