Peter Ngare
5 May 2008
Nairobi — Hundreds of teachers have abandoned the chalk for jobs in the private sector and the public service. The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association says nearly 600 teachers have left the classroom for the Public Service in the past six months.
Most of these have been absorbed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, while others have been employed as quality assurance officers. "Others have settled in private academies, financial institutions, insurance companies, the media and non-governmental organisations," said the association's chairman, Mr Cleophas Tirop.
"The rate at which teachers are leaving the profession to work in other areas is alarming. In the past six months only, over 600 have joined the Public Service." Knut secretary-general Francis Ng'ang'a said there was concern over the quality of education in the country, as most of the teachers being wooed to other professions were among the most competent.
The two attributed the brain-drain to what they termed as poor payment of teachers in public schools.
Public schools
"It is clear that teachers are given a raw deal compared to other public servants with similar qualifications. This has prompted many of them to look for jobs where they are well paid and with attractive terms and conditions of service," Mr Tirop said.
He asked the Government to harmonise teachers' pay with that of their counterparts in the Public Service. "And, if Kenyans want good education for their children, they have to be ready to pay teachers good salaries," he said, adding: "The time has come to give teachers a boost for their services."
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