Lowest TSC-Employed Teacher Numbers Among Tribes
Lowest TSC-Employed Teacher Numbers Among Tribes. Recently presented to the National Assembly Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The latest data unveils significant disparities within Kenya’s education system.
Some communities grapple with a shortage of educators; for instance, Hawiya has only 9 teachers, Murulle has 14, El Molo has 15, while Gosha, Njemps, and Sakuye have 16, 24, and 28 teachers, respectively. TSC’s teacher distribution extends to 21 of Arab descent, 9 Kenyan Asians, 3 foreigners, and 1 Kenyan European.
In defense of TSC, Macharia attributes the shortage in certain ethnic communities, particularly those in remote areas, to a lack of interest in teaching positions. Simultaneously, she points to the influence of the Education Committee on ethnic balance, advocating for changes in the employment model.
Highlighting TSC’s achievements in ethnic balance, Macharia emphasizes, “The commission ensures that, at various appointment stages, no more than one-third of staff members come from the same ethnic community.”
However, despite TSC’s commitment to merit-based appointments, data reveals that 171,430 out of 346,760 TSC-employed teachers come from only three tribes. Macharia underscores ongoing policy reviews aimed at upholding constitutional goals related to gender parity, fair competition, and the inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
TSC now prioritizes fair competition and merit, implementing a transparent process that involves vacancy announcements, interviews, and the maintenance of a diverse workforce. Nevertheless, persistent ethnic employment disparities raise concerns about unequal resource and opportunity distribution within the education sector.”