Kenya to Export Thousands of Unemployed Teachers.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced that Kenya intends to address its surplus of over 400,000 unemployed graduates by exporting trained but jobless teachers.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba stated that the majority of these teachers hold the now-outdated P1 teaching certificate.
In response to this situation, the government has devised a strategy to send trained, unemployed teachers to work abroad as a measure to alleviate domestic teacher unemployment.
The plan to reduce the unemployment rate among qualified teachers includes seeking recognition for Kenya as an English-speaking nation to enable these educators to work internationally.
CS Ogamba, addressing the Senate, explained that without disclosing exact numbers, a portion of unemployed teachers could soon be eligible for teaching positions overseas.
Ogamba highlighted that some qualified teachers have remained jobless for over a decade, with this export plan potentially lowering their numbers.
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The approval of this proposal could mark a new phase in managing teacher unemployment, allowing Kenya to actively address the joblessness affecting trained educators.
Alarming Figures: Application Data and High Demand for Limited Positions
The data from recent job applications reflects a significant mismatch between job seekers and available positions.
In the latest recruitment round, 219,311 teachers competed for only 4,000 post-primary teaching vacancies.
Additionally, 314,117 unemployed teachers applied for 46,000 positions advertised by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in October 2024. The breakdown of applications revealed that:
- Junior Schools: 144,177 applications for 39,500 permanent positions
- Primary Schools: 93,646 applications for 6,000 positions
- Secondary Schools: 76,294 applications for 450 positions
The rising number of unemployed teachers has become more pronounced since 1998, when the government shifted to a demand-driven hiring model, aiming to control national wage expenditures.
In 2018, TSC Chief Executive Nancy Macharia reported over 290,000 unemployed trained teachers, with the number increasing yearly.
Political Response and Concerns
Some senators voiced concerns, perceiving the strategy as an acknowledgment of a potentially bleak future, given that only 317,069 teachers are employed by the TSC.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ pointed out that Kenya’s education sector faces issues with both unemployed teachers and unstaffed classrooms, describing the situation as problematic.
The TSC’s strategic plan for 2019–2023 estimated an annual teacher shortage, largely due to growing enrollment rates, new school establishments, and expanded school facilities.
The government’s commitment to a 100% transition rate from primary to secondary school further strained teacher resources.
| Year | Estimated Teacher Shortage |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 99,081 |
| 2020 | 98,448 |
| 2021 | 97,826 |
| 2022 | 97,214 |
| 2023 | 96,612 |
Financial Constraints and Budget Cuts
CS Ogamba cited budgetary constraints as a factor in the rising unemployment of teachers. The government’s withdrawal of the Finance Bill, 2024, due to public pressure from younger generations, led to Sh346 billion in budget cuts, exacerbating financial limitations within ministries.
Originally, the government had expected the Finance Bill to yield Sh347 billion by June 2025, filling a Sh3.92 trillion budget gap.
Adding to these challenges, Kenya is contending with underperforming revenue collection. The Kenya Revenue Authority collected Sh2.22 trillion, which fell short of its revised target of Sh2.5 trillion for the fiscal year ending June 2024, leaving a deficit of Sh276 billion.
The government has struggled to address teacher shortages across all educational levels. Public schools, particularly junior secondary institutions, face an acute shortage of teaching staff.
The implementation of Kenya’s teacher export plan will be closely watched, as it could present a partial solution to the surplus of qualified but unemployed teachers within the country.
Kenya to Export Thousands of Unemployed Teachers
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