Kenya’s public schools face a critical teacher shortage despite the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) employing over 431,000 educators nationwide.
Kenya’s public education system is facing an acute teacher shortage despite the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) managing a workforce of about 431,831 employed educators.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba revealed that the shortage is especially severe in specialised subjects such as Social Studies, Integrated Science, Pre-technical Studies, and various STEM disciplines.
Speaking during a ministry briefing, Mr Ogamba said there are approximately 369,430 registered but unemployed teachers in the country — a clear mismatch between supply and employment opportunities.
He attributed the gap to limited hiring capacity and evolving curriculum needs under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). The CS further called for expanded and targeted teacher training to meet the country’s evolving education demands.
The ministry is now focusing on capacity-building initiatives, including expanding diploma and degree-level teacher training programs to better align skills with national priorities.
