Members of the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Education are set to investigate the recruitment and deployment criteria of teachers across the country following concerns raised by Homa Bay County Woman Rep, Joyce Bensuda. The probe, requested by Bensuda, will focus on issues surrounding the hiring of teachers, particularly the practice of deploying educators nearing retirement to schools with immediate teaching needs.
Bensuda pointed out that some schools are receiving teachers who have less than a year before retirement, which leads to disruptions in teaching. She argued that teachers in this category lack the time to integrate into the school environment or build meaningful relationships with students. As a result, the overall student welfare suffers, and the teacher’s short-term commitment to the school impacts academic performance and effective school management.
Highlighting the best practices set by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNESCO, Bensuda noted that these organizations emphasize stability and continuity in the teaching profession to ensure quality education. She expressed concern that the current teacher deployment practices, which often involve those nearing retirement, do not align with these guidelines, thereby creating disparities in educational outcomes between schools.
The committee’s investigation will delve into the procedures used in teacher recruitment and deployment, aiming to ensure that both students and teachers experience stability and continuity. Furthermore, the committee will review whether school demographics—such as student population and specific school needs—are adequately considered when assigning teachers.
In addition to this, the committee is expected to examine the ministry’s strategies for recruiting teachers in their prime, to maximize long-term teaching expertise. The MPs will also assess existing policies regarding the equitable distribution of teachers, including how the number of schools per region, ward, or area influences recruitment and deployment practices.
The findings of this inquiry could lead to revisions in the teacher recruitment and deployment process, with the goal of enhancing the overall quality of education in Kenya.
