The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has launched a major recruitment drive, opening up 46,000 teaching positions, with most allocated to Junior Secondary Schools.
This development marks a significant shift after months of uncertainty, as the government moves to address staffing gaps in schools across the country.
The announcement, published in the government bulletin MyGov on Tuesday, October 1, comes after intense pressure from teachers’ unions, which led to strikes in August. Teachers had previously raised concerns over their status, with many still employed under internship contracts.
Now, the promise to confirm thousands of teachers on permanent and pensionable terms could offer a solution to the long-standing disputes.
A photo of the Teachers Service Commission, Chairperson Nancy Macharia addressing journalists on February 23
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TSC
Out of the 46,000 available posts, 6,000 are reserved for primary schools, 39,550 for Junior Secondary Schools, and 450 for secondary schools.
How to apply: The criteria for applicants are straightforward. For primary schools, candidates must hold a minimum of a P1 certificate, while those applying for Junior and secondary schools require at least a diploma in education. Additionally, all applicants must be registered with the TSC.
Qualified candidates are expected to submit their applications online through the TSC’s official website by midnight on October 7, 2024.
“Interested and qualified candidates should submit their applications online through the Teachers Service Commission’s website, www.tsc.go.ke, under ‘Careers’ or teachersonline.tsc.go.ke,” reads part of the notice.
Dig deeper: The announcement follows a dramatic U-turn by President William Ruto, who had initially frozen teacher recruitment in June as part of broader cost-cutting measures tied to the Finance Bill 2024. His decision sparked outrage from teachers’ unions and led to widespread protests.
After the government’s budget was reshuffled under the Supplementary Appropriations Act 2024, Ksh18.6 billion was allocated to cover the employment of 46,000 teachers, now on permanent and pensionable terms.
The issue of teacher confirmation has been a point of contention for months. Intern teachers, many of whom were hired under contract, have been demanding permanent terms to secure job security and better benefits.
Protests by these interns began earlier this year, with demonstrations seen across the country, including in counties like Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa.
During a recent address in Kajiado, President Ruto reassured the country’s educators that his government remains committed to resolving the employment issue. “We have faced challenges with the Finance Bill, but I assure all Junior Secondary teachers currently under internship that they will be confirmed as permanent employees by the end of the year,” he emphasised.
This latest recruitment drive aligns with the president’s previous pledge to hire 56,000 teachers to close staffing gaps in schools. The TSC had informed Parliament that it required an additional Ksh8.3 billion to confirm the employment status of 26,000 teachers by January 2025.
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia before the National Assembly committee on Monday, May 15, 2023
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Parliament of Kenya
