The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced the recruitment of 46,000 teachers, primarily for Junior Secondary Schools, marking a pivotal development in addressing staffing shortages in Kenyan schools. This announcement was made in the government bulletin MyGov on Tuesday, October 1, following significant pressure from teachers’ unions which previously led to strikes over employment issues.

Out of the 46,000 positions, 39,550 are designated for Junior Secondary Schools, 6,000 for primary schools, and 450 for secondary schools. Applicants must meet specific criteria: those seeking primary school positions need at least a P1 certificate, while candidates for Junior and secondary schools must hold at least a diploma in education. All applicants must be registered with the TSC.

“Interested and qualified candidates should submit their applications online through the Teachers Service Commission’s website by midnight on October 7, 2024,” the notice stated.

This recruitment follows President William Ruto’s recent announcement that all Junior Secondary teachers currently on internship will be confirmed as permanent employees by the end of the year. “We are committed to resolving the employment issue for our educators,” President Ruto assured during a recent address.

The recruitment drive is part of the government’s effort to fulfill its earlier commitment to hire 56,000 teachers to fill existing gaps, addressing long-standing concerns from a workforce advocating for job security and better benefits. Protests had erupted earlier this year as intern teachers demanded stable employment terms.