-
Misori said learners can survive without other resources in schools but not without the guidance of a teacher.
-
Misori said those who designed the curriculum are aware of the kind of teachers needed to implement it.
Image: FILE
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) is calling on the government to employ more teachers ahead of Grade 9 enrollment in 2025.
Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori told the Star that the most important resource to be availed to schools ahead of Grade 9 enrollment in 2025 is teachers.
"Teachers are the first resource that ought to be availed to schools. If learners do not have teachers, then everything is wrong," he said.
Misori said learners can survive without other resources in schools but not without the guidance of a teacher.
"What we are saying is that the government must employ teachers because we can not have education without teachers in school. We can miss to have laboratories but we must have teachers. That is the first remedy to the resources issues," Misori said.
The Kuppet official said those who designed the curriculum are aware of the kind of teachers needed to implement it.
"TSC must rationalise how to post those teachers to ensure learners have the teachers they need," Misori said.
Kenya Primary Schools Headteachers Association for North Eastern chairperson Hassan Farah said the region is in need of teachers who have specialised in STEM subjects.
"Most of the teachers that have been posted to this area are those who are not subject specialists in STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics). Most teachers here are trained in Social Sciences not STEM. We need STEM teachers," he said.
Additionally, Farah said there are generally no facilities ready for use by the incoming Grade 9 learners in the region.
"But the government was saying they would be doing construction very soon. There are three schools in every zone that have been identified for the first phase of classroom construction," he said.
Farah said schools are not only in need of classrooms but laboratories as well.
Many are currently in need of sanitation facilities as they were destroyed by the recent floods.
"We have also had winds that have destroyed most of the toilets in schools. So that facility is necessary and we direly need it," Farah said.
As schools across the country await Grage 9 enrollment, headteachers have expressed concern that resources including desks, chairs, sanitation facilities and laboratories are not available.
But the government has only aired plans to construct classrooms.
Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang said the ministry plans to avail classrooms by January.
“By the time our schools open in January, we shall have availed 16,000 classrooms to accommodate Grade 9 learners. As government this is a responsibility we shall ensure is done,” Belio said.
At the same time, the government has promised to hire 26,000 teachers on contracts for JSS intern teachers come July 1, 2024.