The teacher's employer has requested an additional Sh78 billion to hire more teachers in the next five years, as part of its five-year strategic paln.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) said with the money, it will recruit additional 11,1870 tutors. TSC chief executive officer Nancy Macharia said this is part of its five-year strategic plan aimed at easing teacher shortage.
Overall, TSC will require Sh134 billion to implement the strategic plan launched yesterday.
''For successful implementation of this Strategic Plan over the next five years, the commission will require an additional budget of 134,493,190,000 shillings,'' she said.
Dr Macharia further said the shortfall informed the contents in the Strategic Plan, which heavily focuses on welfare of teachers.
''Teachers ultimately shape learners' lives. To enable us serve our clients better, we have changed our corporate vision statement to a motivated, ethical and globally competitive teacher,'' she said.
She added: ''It is abundantly clear that the teacher is the focus of our reforms. The main strategic focus areas highlighted in the new plan are a testament to the direction we are taking.''
The Strategic Plan has three thematic areas of quality teaching service and curriculum implementation; service delivery re-engineering and innovation; and institutional capacity and corporate governance.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who graced the launch at Kenya School of Government, challenged the TSC to embrace all education stakeholders, unions and associations to make the strategic plan fruitful.
Mr Mudavadi said competition between the commission and stakeholder on interests, is not healthy for the progress of education.
''I am a strong believer that where there are misunderstandings, the power of reason must prevail. As you guard your personal interest, always know there is an even greater civil interest that you owe society,'' he said.
He regretted that continued disruption of learners' education due to failure to listen to each other cannot be the reason for the TSC existence.
''The TSC has issues with the parent ministry on who should appoint school heads. I firmly believe that if you choose to criticize, do so while offering an alternative. Don't condemn. Have the candour to offer solutions,'' he said.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu lauded the commission for rolling out the Strategic Plan, which he said will provide direction on standards and accountability.
According to the CS, as the education sector undergoes reforms, teachers will be a critical component in achieving government's agenda.
''We are in a time of evolving technological landscape. We learnt from Covid-19 that we should take advantage of technology. With the teacher shortage, we can rely on technology,'' said Machogu.
The CS said the lessons learned from the Covid-19 will be overcome in case of similar pandemics.
''The Plan has come at an opportune time because we are in the course of implementing CBC. TSC has retooled and built the capacity of teachers on the new curriculum, which is relevant in the 21st century,'' he said.
With the new Strategic Plan, Machogu noted that TSC should ensure successful capacity building and retooling of teachers to implement CBC and automation of processes.
