Wajir leaders propose drastic measures to deal with teacher shortage

The leaders have proposed a range of measures, including sponsoring locals to pursue education courses and lowering the minimum intake grade for students from the region wishing to pursue teaching.

Speaking at Eldas Primary School during the Eldas District Education day, Wajir Senator Abdirahman Hassan said he believes that education problems in the county need local solutions, noting that the proposed measures will address shortage of teachers in the larger North Eastern region.

Hassan stated that Wajir County has 1,330 teacher with 627 non-locals, out of which 312 are yet to report back to their stations.

He blamed Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Wilson Sossion for the shortage due to the boycott by non-local teachers who have refused to return to work due to security fears.

HIGHEST LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP

He said: “The government has advertised 192 vacancies in primary schools and 162 in secondary schools.”

“All the 192 vacancies in primary have been filled. However, in secondary, only 30 applicants have been recruited.”

The senator also called upon school boards and heads to exercise the highest level of leadership and administration in the management of their institutions.

On his part, area Member of Parliament Aden Keynan promised to support teachers by facilitating their transport.

Wajir North MP Ibrahim Saney assured non-local teachers of their security and challenged parents to change their attitude and encourage their children to join teacher-training institutions.

By Benjamin Wafula