Delays in TSC Certification and Employment Make Teachers’ Job Crisis Worse
Graduate teachers across the country are decrying the persistent delays in obtaining Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) numbers, a setback that has significantly worsened unemployment among qualified educators.
During a press briefing on Saturday, February 22, affected teachers voiced their frustration, revealing that the prolonged certification process has left many of them jobless for months, if not years. Without the TSC number, securing employment in both public and private institutions remains an uphill battle, forcing many to rely on menial jobs to make ends meet.
Call for Internship Reform
In addition to raising concerns over certification delays, graduate teachers are urging TSC to shorten the current internship duration, which presently stretches for a full year. Many believe that the extended internship period places an undue financial burden on young educators who are already struggling with unemployment.
Some teachers disclosed that financial hardships have forced them to abandon their teaching careers before securing permanent employment. They argue that instead of prolonging internships, the government should channel more resources toward hiring and absorbing teachers into permanent positions.
A graduate teacher, speaking on behalf of his peers, emphasized that the government should focus on fast-tracking permanent employment rather than stretching internships for one or two years. According to him, an efficient employment framework would allow newly trained teachers to transition smoothly into their careers without unnecessary delays.
Demand for Better Pay and Job Security
Beyond addressing employment delays, the teachers are calling on the government to offer competitive salaries and ensure timely employment, particularly for those who have pursued advanced education. Many graduate teachers feel undervalued, despite being well-equipped with modern teaching methodologies, including expertise in the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
They insist that newly trained teachers, who have received direct training on CBC implementation, should be given priority in employment. Currently, many practicing teachers struggle to adapt to the new system, creating a gap that fresh graduates can efficiently fill.
These grievances emerge just weeks after the government announced its intention to hire 6,000 additional teachers to facilitate the CBC rollout.
Speaking on January 20, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to tackling teacher shortages. He disclosed that 56,000 permanent and pensionable teachers, alongside 20,000 interns, have already been hired to support the education sector. To further ease the transition into the Senior Secondary School (SSS) system, an additional 6,000 teachers will soon be recruited.
The move signals the government’s effort to address the staffing crisis in schools, but for many graduate teachers, the ongoing certification delays and lengthy internships remain major roadblocks to securing stable employment.
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