Increased Enrollment in Teacher Training Colleges Brings Hope to Kenya’s Northeastern Region.
The northeastern region of Kenya has historically faced significant challenges in its education sector, primarily due to a persistent shortage of teachers. This shortage was exacerbated in 2020 when non-local teachers were transferred out of counties like Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera due to security concerns stemming from targeted terror attacks.
In response to this crisis, both the government and local leaders have implemented strategies aimed at cultivating a self-sufficient teaching workforce from within the community. One notable initiative has been the reopening and expansion of Teachers‘ Training Colleges (TTCs) in the region. For instance, Garissa Teachers College, which had previously seen dwindling enrollment, now boasts over 600 students, a significant increase from just 54. Similarly, Mandera Teachers Training College has welcomed 603 first-year trainees, reflecting a growing interest among local youth in the teaching profession.
To further support this positive trend, the government has undertaken infrastructural developments to accommodate the increasing number of teacher trainees. Mandera County, for example, has initiated the construction of 10 additional classrooms at its TTC, a project funded by the Office of the President. This expansion aims to provide a conducive learning environment for over 500 new trainees, addressing both current and future educational needs.
Policy adjustments have also played a crucial role in boosting TTC enrollments. The Ministry of Education revised the entry requirements for TTCs, lowering the minimum mean grade to a C (plain). This change has made teacher training more accessible to a broader segment of the local population, thereby reducing under-enrollment in these institutions.
Local leaders have been instrumental in promoting teaching careers among the youth. They have actively encouraged students to pursue education courses, emphasizing the importance of local participation in the teaching workforce. Higher Education Principal Secretary Simon Nabukwesi highlighted the necessity for students from the region to fill the gaps left by departing teachers, ensuring that schools in northern Kenya are adequately staffed.
These concerted efforts have yielded promising results. In Garissa County, teacher enrollment has surged from just 50 to approximately 1,200 over the past two years. Wajir and Mandera counties have also seen significant increases, with current enrollments nearing 200 and 2,000 students, respectively. This upward trend suggests a growing self-reliance in addressing the teacher shortage, with locally trained educators poised to serve their communities.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resolving the teacher crisis in the northeastern region. During a visit to Mandera, he emphasized plans to employ more teachers, aiming for a permanent solution to the shortage. The government’s swift action on recommendations from the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform, including the removal of subject cluster combinations, has led to higher admissions of local students in TTCs across Garissa and Mandera.
In summary, the collaborative efforts of the government and local leaders have fostered a renewed interest in teaching careers among the youth in Kenya’s northeastern region. Through infrastructural improvements, policy reforms, and community engagement, there is a burgeoning hope that the longstanding teacher shortage will be effectively addressed, leading to a more robust and self-sustaining education system in the area.