KNUT Garissa branch calls for urgent action on teacher shortage crisis
Abdirizack explained that the prolonged shortage of teachers has severely affected both learners and teachers, with the latter overburdened by excessive workloads.
The Garissa branch of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has called on the national government to address the prolonged shortage of teachers in the region.
Speaking during the branch's Annual General Meeting held in Garissa town, officials led by Branch Secretary Abdirizack Hussein stated that the shortage, caused by the mass exodus of non-local teachers due to insecurity, has crippled the education sector.
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"The government needs to treat this as a matter of urgency. Many teachers left due to insecurity but have yet to be replaced. Several leaders from the region have appealed before, but nothing has changed," said the branch secretary.
Abdirizack explained that the prolonged shortage of teachers has severely affected both learners and teachers, with the latter overburdened by excessive workloads.
"We have schools with both primary and junior secondary sections where only six teachers are serving. This is unfair and a clear case of neglect that must be addressed," he said.
Garissa branch Knut Secretary Abdirizack Hussein addressing attendants at the meeting. (Issa Hussein)
Flanked by branch officials, he urged the government to prioritise the region in the current nationwide recruitment of teachers.
The officials also pressed Garissa Governor Nathif Jama, who attended the meeting, on the fate of teachers deployed to the county government by the previous administration but affected by a mass sacking as part of an effort by the county to reduce a bloated workforce.
They asked the governor to either retain the affected teachers or officially release them back to the Ministry.
"The teachers were affected by the mass sacking, yet they cannot return to their previous ministry since they have no official letters from the county explaining why they were dismissed, nor a letter instructing them to return to their former employer, the Teachers Service Commission. Their fate is in limbo. We kindly request that your administration either release them or retain them," urged the branch secretary.
Stakeholders who attended the AGM held in Garissa town. (Issa Hussein)
In response to their plea, the governor promised to follow up and find an appropriate solution to the issue.
The officials also raised concerns about incidents of insecurity targeting school watchmen in Garissa town.
They reported that two watchmen were recently murdered in separate incidents and urged Garissa's security committee to follow up and apprehend the perpetrators of these heinous attacks.
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