The Chairperson of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) Machakos chapter, Stephen Kavuvu, has sounded the alarm over a severe shortage of teachers in sub-county schools thus lowering the quality of education being received by students.
According to Kavuvu, the problem is particularly acute in the schools, most of which were started by the area Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and whose majority of teachers are employed under Boards of Management (BOMs).
“Teacher shortage is not just a challenge, it’s a crisis, especially in sub-county or CDF-supported schools. We are heavily reliant on BOM-employed teachers since the financial resources available are grossly inadequate to meet their needs,” Kavuvu stated.
“These funds are primarily intended to cover basic necessities like the lunch programme, leaving little to no room for teachers’ salaries,” he added.
He also addressed the role of the government in the issue, acknowledging that while it does provide funding, it often arrives in piecemeal amounts.
Kavuvu added that the delays in the disbursement of Free Secondary Education (FSE) funds worsen the problem, leaving BOM teachers waiting for their salaries, sometimes for extended periods.
“We cannot accuse the government of neglect, as we do receive funds. However, the delays in releasing FSE monies create significant challenges. When the funds arrive late, it directly affects the payment of our BOM teachers who already face financial instability,” he said.
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He stressed that the employment of more teachers will greatly ease the situation.
“The shortage of teachers in these regions not only hinders academic performance but also worsens social inequalities, as students in sub-county schools struggle to receive the same quality of education as their counterparts in better-funded institutions,” he said.
Kavuvu is advocating for increased government funding and a more streamlined process for the disbursement of FSE monies.
He also emphasized the need for a sustainable solution that ensures BOM teachers receive fair compensation, thus stabilizing the education system in sub-county schools.
“The future of our students is at stake. We need to ensure that every child, regardless of their school’s funding source, has access to quality education. This begins with addressing the teacher shortage and ensuring that our educators are well-compensated and motivated.“ He concluded.
By Agnes Orang’o
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