The Kenya Kwanza administration has marked a significant achievement in education, successfully recruiting a record 76,000 teachers within just two years.
The government allocated Kshs 37 billion for this initiative, which includes hiring 56,000 teachers on permanent, pensionable terms and providing internships for 20,000 others. This effort addresses the substantial teacher shortage identified at over 116,000, as per the BETA Plan goals.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC), one of Africa’s largest employers, currently oversees a workforce of 410,258 teachers from a total of over 805,000 registered educators.
However, over 300,000 qualified teachers remain unemployed, highlighting the need for expanded opportunities. In response, the government is facilitating international job placements for Kenyan teachers in 17 countries, with significant interest from the United States, Ireland, Germany, and Thailand. In a notable move, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi recently flagged off the first group of Kenyan teachers heading to U.S. district schools.
Beyond recruitment, the Kenya Kwanza administration has also prioritized the promotion and professional development of educators. This year alone, Kshs 2 billion has been allocated for promotions, resulting in a record 76,250 teachers being elevated within the system. Notably, 66,504 teachers received promotions during the last financial year.
The initiative to align teachers with the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system sees a yearly investment of Kshs 1.2 billion for retraining. So far, 289,934 teachers, including those from primary and junior secondary schools, have completed this modern skills training.
The TSC is also advancing its operations through technology as part of the government’s digitization agenda, enhancing service delivery and management efficiency.
