TSC Urged to Address 3,000 Primary School Teachers Shortage in Homa Bay County.
Homa Bay County Governor Gladys Wanga has urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to urgently address the acute shortage of teachers in the county. She expressed concerns about the potential decline in education standards if the issue is not resolved promptly.
The governor revealed that Homa Bay County is facing a deficit of 3,000 primary school teachers, which she fears could undermine the quality of education.
She emphasized that while efforts are being made to improve early childhood education, the transition to primary school remains at risk due to the lack of adequate teaching staff.
County Efforts to Boost Education
Governor Wanga elaborated on the initiatives her administration has undertaken to enhance education in the county.
She noted that significant funds have been allocated to hire Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers on Permanent and Pensionable terms.
Additionally, the county government has invested in constructing more classrooms and improving the school feeding program to support learners.
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The governor disclosed that her administration set aside KSh160 million for the construction of 160 classrooms specifically for ECDE learners.
However, she cautioned that these efforts might prove ineffective if the National Government does not step in to recruit sufficient primary school teachers to nurture learners as they advance to higher education levels.
Challenges in Teacher Allocation
Governor Wanga criticized the previous teacher recruitment approach, where individuals hired from other regions often sought transfers shortly after employment, leaving local learners disadvantaged.
She called on the government to address this issue to ensure equitable distribution and retention of teachers within the county.
She noted that in January, the TSC plans to recruit 5,862 teachers across the country. Of these, Homa Bay County will receive only 135 teachers.
Breaking down the allocation, Ndhiwa and Homa Bay sub-counties will each get 22 teachers, Rachuonyo North will receive 17, while Suba, Mbita, and Rachuonyo East sub-counties will each get 14 teachers. Rachuonyo South is set to receive just 11 teachers.
Insufficient Teacher Recruitment
Governor Wanga described the planned teacher allocation as insufficient compared to the county’s needs.
She highlighted that many schools in the region have high student populations, making it critical to deploy more teachers to cater to these learners adequately.
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She reiterated her call for the National Government to take urgent measures to bridge the teacher shortage and ensure balanced staffing in Homa Bay County schools.
TSC Urged to Address 3,000 Primary School Teachers Shortage in Homa Bay County
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