Retooling for 19,000 Newly-Recruited Teachers Commences Nationwide
The retooling for over 19,000 teacher interns, who were recruited towards the end of the previous year, commenced in various counties throughout the nation on April 22, accompanied by requests for an increase in reimbursement rates from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Numerous educators who spoke to Education News lamented the inadequate rates that do not fully align with the soaring costs of living.
“The training venues are significantly distant this time around. We are compelled to seek accommodations to conserve time,” articulated Dennis, a teacher intern hailing from Busia County.
It was noted that, in contrast to last year’s retooling, most venues were altered following a reduction in certain school management’s willingness to host the exercise, citing extended delays in reimbursement for services rendered by the commission.
A survey conducted on the first day of the retooling revealed that numerous centers in the Western region commenced the exercise earlier than anticipated. By 9 a. m. , the trainees had already filled most centers.
In Navakholo, the exercise began promptly, with the TSC County Director emphasizing the importance of full attendance by the teachers.
In the Eastern region, the exercise proceeded seamlessly, with the Trainer of Trainers (TOTs) highlighting that the training was comparatively slow due to the trainees’ unfamiliarity with competency-based curricula.
In the Kangundo Sub-county, the distribution of male and female trainees was equal. In the central region, a majority of training centers were visited by financial institutions, which, according to the trainees, consumed a significant amount of time intended for the training activities.
Furthermore, the trainees expressed concerns at some venues regarding the trainers’ engagement in protracted discussions that strayed from the trainers’ content.
Certain centers in the Rift Valley region commenced the exercise later than scheduled, such as the Kilgoris Sub-county, which began at 10:36 a. m. A malfunctioning projector consistently interrupted the exercise in the Ainabkoi Sub-county.
It is noteworthy that April’s retooling program commenced positively in most centers nationwide. Special Needs Education (SNE) training was conducted at the county level.
This time, the number of trainees was significantly reduced. It was discovered that only age-specific trainees from SNE schools, including those focused on hearing, visual, and physical disabilities, were invited.