EMBU: TSC working to end teacher’s shortage in schools

 The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has cited inadequate funding as the reason it is unable to employ more teachers to sufficiently address staffing shortage in schools.
Commission chair Lydia Nzomo explained to education stakeholders that the competing needs of the nation makes it impossible for TSC to be provided with enough money to bridge the shortfall.
Speaking during the Eastern region TSC open day at Embu Kawa Academy, Nzomo said teacher shortage was a nationwide issue that should not be blamed on commissioners who had no reason to deny teachers to schools.
 “We are, however, applying innovative ways to ensure the Kenyan child doesn’t suffer from lack of teachers. We have discussed this with (National Assembly) committee on education and are discussing it with the Treasury. We will try our best to eliminate this problem,” she said.
Stakeholders including teachers unions and associations officials, had accused TSC of lacking the goodwill to staff schools adequately and remunerate teachers properly commensurate to their work, despite the Commission being populated by career teachers.
Embu County Education CEC John Kiamati had said despite playing a crucial role in nation building, teachers were suffering from low pay, saying TSC as their employer had failed to bargain for their proper pay.
Nzomo told the teachers to take cognisance that TSC received a whooping Sh201 billion from the Treasury which amounted to about a tenth of the national budget.
She promised that the Commission will liaise with relevant arms of government to review and determine hardship and housing allowances to different areas to address grievances by some teachers that their schools were unfairly left out.
Runyenjes MP Eric Muchangi had said teachers were grumbling that they missed the allowances though they lived in same residential areas and worked in similar conditions with teachers whose (neighbouring) schools benefitted.
The TSC boss assured teachers that the commission valued their work and was committed to protecting them harassment and discrimination.
“We appreciate the selflessness that teachers carry their jobs with sometimes at the expense of personal comfort and convenience. For example last year when teachers were harassed in a school in Samburu, we removed them until we were assured of their safety. We have also done the same in Mpeketoni. We protect our teachers religiously and to the extent they will not be at the mercy of an individual,” she asserted.
She also affirmed that the Commission encourages teachers to further their education, adding that their policies require newly head teachers to be holders of a bachelors degree in education and principals to have masters degrees.
Responding to Embu County Education Board representative Peter Kathambara who called on TSC to provide professional counsellors to clusters of schools in certain zones to support disturbed teachers some who committed suicide, Nzomo said the commission was working on it.