TSC to Hire 20,000 Teachers to Support Grade 9 Education

TSC to Hire 20,000 Teachers to Support Grade 9 Education

To reduce the workload associated with teaching Grade 9 students by 2025, the Kenyan government has announced the recruitment of at least 20,000 new teachers.

During a speech in Bungoma, Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu of the Ministry of Education revealed that eighth-graders will be advancing to ninth grade within elementary schools. To facilitate this transition, tasks have been assigned to every constituency across the country.

Machogu highlighted that 6,000 classrooms will be constructed by the end of the year, supported by a conditional KSh 3.4 billion funding from the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and the national government. Additionally, the World Bank has provided KSh 9 billion for the construction of an extra 9,000 classrooms in elementary schools. This funding will enable the completion of 15,015 classrooms by year-end.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) plans to recruit 20,000 teachers, specifically for Grade 9, to address the teaching requirements. Machogu also mentioned that the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has finalized the curriculum materials for Grade 9, with the public release of these educational resources nearing completion.

Addressing rumors on social media, Machogu denied that all Grade 9 classes would be moved to secondary schools in the upcoming academic year. He also refuted accusations that he had directed the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to design the Grade 8 Kenya Primary Placement Examination (KEPPE) to allocate pupils to Grade 9. He clarified that no changes have been made to the current system, and there is no plan to introduce a new exam by November this year.

Machogu debunked false claims that the State was planning to transfer Grade 9 teachers and students to secondary schools to implement the competency-based curriculum. According to a fabricated circular, these teachers would supposedly be moved from elementary to high schools to supervise Grades 9 through 12.

The TSC has acknowledged a severe teacher shortage in junior secondary schools, emphasizing the urgent need for the planned recruitment to ensure adequate staffing and the successful implementation of educational initiatives.

TSC to Hire 20,000 Teachers to Support Grade 9 Education