Narok County Women Representative Rebecca Tonkei has expressed her support for the government’s historic move to recruit over 56,000 teachers on Permanent and Pensionable (PnP) terms. This recruitment, which targets Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), is hailed as a significant milestone, as no government since Kenya’s independence has taken such bold steps to address the critical shortage of teachers in the country.
Tonkei described the move as groundbreaking, emphasizing its potential to tackle unemployment while simultaneously elevating the academic standards across the nation. “We thank the government for hiring the highest number of teachers. This is historic because no government has ever done this,” Tonkei remarked. Her statement reflects the enthusiasm and optimism that many in the region feel about this move, particularly in the context of Kenya’s ongoing education transformation into the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Tonkei’s excitement was particularly evident as she highlighted the impact on Narok County, a region that has long been marginalized in various aspects, including educational opportunities. “Our county also got a lot of slots. This has never happened before and as residents we are so happy about this,” she noted while speaking in Kilgoris Town. The influx of teachers is expected to improve the local education system and empower the youth, who are often constrained by limited resources and infrastructure.
The recruitment drive comes as part of broader government efforts to address the teacher shortage in schools. With the new teachers expected to fill critical gaps in the education system, Tonkei called on local parents to invest in their children’s education. “Education is the equalizer, and I want to ask our parents to invest in their children’s education,” she urged, emphasizing that the government’s efforts are aligned with the aspirations of the community.
As part of this initiative, the government plans to recruit an additional 20,000 interns this month. While teacher unions have lauded the recruitment drive, it is clear that more is needed, with an estimated 100,000 teachers still required to meet the country’s educational demands.
This landmark move reflects the government’s commitment to improving the educational landscape and addressing the teacher shortage that has hindered the quality of learning in many parts of the country.
