How we can help teachers earn more and do a better job

A recent World Bank report shows Kenyan teachers earn significantly less than other professionals with similar levels of education. [File, Standard]

Teachers play a critical role in shaping the future of any society by imparting knowledge and skills to the next generation. In Kenya, the education sector faces numerous challenges, including poor remuneration for teachers.

A recent World Bank report shows Kenyan teachers earn significantly less than other professionals with similar levels of education. This has been a long-standing concern, with the Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA) being at the forefront of advocating for better working conditions.

According to the Teachers Service Commission, the average monthly salary for a primary school teacher is Sh34,955, while a secondary school teacher earns Sh43,694.

These figures are well below the living wage in Kenya, which the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics estimates at Sh57,945 for a family of four.

To address this, KEWOTA has partnered with Roodito, an online assessment platform that provides an opportunity for teachers to earn extra income. The partnership is an innovative solution that seeks to help teachers supplement their income while continuing to teach and at the same time, enabling students to prepare for examinations better.

The platform will use data accuracy to identify areas where a pupil may be struggling in a particular subject. By analysing the pupil's performance in various exams and assessments, the platform can generate detailed reports that highlight specific topics or concepts the pupil needs to focus on.

This information can be invaluable for pupils as they prepare for exams. By identifying their strengths and weaknesses, pupils can create targeted study plans that focus on the areas where they need the most improvement. This can help them optimise their study time and resources.

Roodito's personalised feedback can help pupils understand their mistakes and provide guidance on how to improve. For example, if a pupil consistently gets questions wrong on a particular topic, the platform can provide additional resources or practice questions on that topic.

Significantly however, through the Roodito platform, teachers can create and submit high-quality exam questions, then made available to students. For each question submitted, the teacher earns a fee, providing an opportunity to earn extra income in a flexible and convenient manner.

Contributing to the platform can also help teachers develop their skills in creating high-quality exam questions, which they can apply in their own classrooms. This can enhance their teaching abilities and make them more effective in preparing their students for exams. The platform also offers a flexible and convenient way for teachers to work and earn money outside of their regular teaching hours.

Significantly, the platform will also increase visibility of teachers in the education community. This can lead to opportunities for networking, collaboration, and professional growth. The partnership will particularly be beneficial for female teachers, who often face additional financial challenges due to societal and cultural factors.

-The writer is the CEO of KEWOTA