TSC Announces 2,014 Teaching Vacancies as Teacher Shortage Bites.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced 2,014 vacancies to be filled following the exit of staff through natural attrition. These positions are open to Kenyan citizens and include 1,309 slots for primary schools, 32 for junior schools, and 673 for senior secondary institutions. Successful candidates will be employed on permanent and pensionable terms.
Applicants targeting primary schools must hold a P1 certificate, while those applying for junior and senior secondary positions should possess a diploma in education. Additionally, all candidates must be registered with the TSC. The digitized application process is already underway and is scheduled to close on May 19, 2025.
Since the government initiated the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in 2018, significant changes have taken place within the education structure. Elementary education was split into pre-primary and primary phases, lasting two and six years respectively. Pupils now complete primary education at Grade 6 before moving to Junior Secondary School, which spans Grades 7 to 9.
The CBC’s emphasis on practical learning and subject-specific instruction has significantly heightened the demand for specialized teachers. The curriculum’s need for smaller class sizes and personalized learning approaches continues to expose the widening teacher deficit across the country.
Staffing Crisis in Junior Schools
Public primary schools hosting junior sections have borne the greatest staffing burden following the enrollment of over one million learners into Grade 9. Despite the government converting 39,550 junior school teachers from contract to permanent terms last year, and reassigning 8,378 primary school teachers to junior schools, challenges persist.
A TSC report reveals that junior schools are still short of 72,422 teachers. The shortage has caused overcrowded classrooms and overworked teachers, with a notable absence of subject specialists required for effective CBC delivery. A senior teacher at a junior school stated that they were managing up to five different subjects daily without sufficient planning time. “We are spread too thin to give learners the attention they need,” they added.
In the wake of the job advertisement, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has urged TSC to base its recruitment on teachers’ highest academic qualifications rather than relying on their Form Four grades. According to a union official, many qualified teachers have pursued further studies and deserve to be assessed on the strength of those credentials. He remarked that it is unjust to disqualify highly trained educators due to lower secondary school performance.
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The TSC’s decision to hire more teachers is a direct response to the staffing challenges in schools. A TSC representative noted that the recruitment drive aims to ensure continuity in quality education and proper implementation of the CBC. “We are committed to addressing the shortages and supporting teachers in their roles,” the official affirmed.
As the CBC continues to unfold, the need for increased and better-qualified staffing remains urgent. The latest recruitment initiative is seen as a critical step in closing the gap, although more comprehensive measures may be necessary to fully resolve the crisis.
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