The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has requested a staggering Sh70 billion from the government to recruit 98,461 teachers in a bold move to address the nationwide staffing crisis in junior secondary and high schools.
Speaking before the Senate on Tuesday, TSC officials painted a grim picture of the current teacher shortage, which has been exacerbated by the rapid rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). According to the commission, schools are grappling with a shortfall that is severely impacting learning quality and increasing the workload for existing teachers.
Of the total number of teachers needed, a significant portion will be directed to junior secondary schools, which have been the most affected under the CBC transition. The shortage has led to numerous complaints from school heads, parents, and teacher unions who argue that the current staffing levels are unsustainable.
TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia emphasized that unless urgent intervention is made through funding, the quality of education will continue to decline, especially in public schools serving underprivileged communities.
The Senate is now expected to debate the funding request and make recommendations to the National Treasury. If approved, the Sh70 billion allocation will be the largest one-time teacher recruitment budget in Kenya’s history—marking a pivotal moment in the country’s education sector.
