We’re hiring teachers for N Eastern – TSC boss

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) yesterday announced an all-year-round recruitment for the North Eastern region following the exodus of teachers from the region over insecurity.

Last month, hundreds of teachers from Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties refused to report back to work, citing increased cases of insecurity.

However, TSC interdicted them on grounds that they deserted duty. The teachers had held protests at TSC headquarters in Nairobi seeking to be transferred to other parts of the country.

Speaking while supervising the distribution of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam materials in Mombasa yesterday, TSC Chief executive officer Nancy Macharia said teachers who refused to return to work were interdicted and investigations into their conduct is ongoing.

“The due process is being followed,” said Macharia.

She said the TSC will continue to recruit more teachers for the North Eastern region throughout the year.
“We recruit teachers for North Eastern throughout the year to replace those who have left. North Eastern is the only place where we do not close recruitment of teachers,” said Macharia.

According to reports, the Eastern region needs more than 2,000 teachers to fill the gaps in primary and secondary schools.

In 2014, at least 28 teachers were killed by suspected al-Shabab militants while they were travelling to Nairobi for the December holidays.

Macharia said recruitment of teachers takes place at the sub-county level and encouraged locals to apply.
The TSC boss said Kenya has a shortage of Islamic Religious Education and Physics teachers.

“If we get adequately funded, we will recruit more teachers to fill those gaps,” she said.