Fate of Young Teachers on Three-Year Contracts in Northeastern Counties

Fate of Young Teachers on Three-Year Contracts in Northeastern Counties.

The plight of young teachers employed on three-year contractual terms in Kenya’s Northeastern counties—Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, and Lamu—remains uncertain, raising concerns among educators and stakeholders.

Despite earlier assurances from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) about confirmations and transitions to permanent employment, many teachers feel sidelined, with limited communication from the commission on the way forward.

TSC introduced fixed-term contracts in 2020 to address a teacher shortage in Northeastern counties caused by insecurity, including frequent al-Shabaab attacks.

These regions witnessed a mass exodus of non-local teachers, exacerbating the crisis. The commission explained that contractual hiring was necessary to fill vacancies and maintain educational services in these areas.

Key Details About the Contracts

1. Renewability: Contracts are offered for three years and are renewable until the teachers reach 65 years of age.
2. Numbers: Currently, 376 teachers are employed under this arrangement.
3. Legal Framework: The Code of Regulation for Teachers allows TSC to hire teachers on contractual terms, particularly retirees and other eligible individuals, under specific circumstances.

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Challenges Faced by Teachers

The contractual system, although a temporary solution, has left many teachers disillusioned:

• Blocked Opportunities: Some teachers were barred from applying for permanent positions during recruitment, despite promises of confirmation.
• Safety Concerns: The threat of al-Shabaab attacks has resulted in the deaths of 32 teachers over the past five years and widespread fear among educators.
• Hostile Work Environment: Reports of harassment by students and derogatory treatment have further discouraged teachers from working in these regions.

Impact of Insecurity on Education

Insecurity has deeply affected education in Northeastern Kenya:

• In 2014, 22 teachers were killed in a bus attack in Mandera.
• In 2018, an attack at Arabia Boys Secondary School in Mandera led to the deaths of two teachers.
• Frequent violence forced the temporary closure of 250 schools in Wajir County.

The exodus of non-local teachers continues to strain the education sector, leaving about 600 non-local teachers in the region to cater to thousands of students. KNUT estimates that Mandera alone needs over 2,000 teachers to fill gaps in its schools.

Way Forward for Contract Teachers

The TSC’s silence on the transition from contracts to permanent terms has left many teachers in limbo. While the three-year contracts are renewable, young teachers demand clarity on long-term career prospects.

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Renewed dialogue between TSC, teacher unions, and affected educators is necessary to resolve these issues and ensure sustainable solutions.

The plight of teachers in Northeastern Kenya highlights the intersection of education, security, and governance, emphasizing the need for comprehensive policies to protect and support educators in these challenging environments.

Fate of Young Teachers on Three-Year Contracts in Northeastern Counties.

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