Kibaki promises to employ more teachers

President Kibaki has announced the Government will employ more teachers under the Economic Stimulus package to address teacher shortage in the country.

He said the Government, through District Education Boards and Schools

"I am aware that the shortage of teachers in our schools is a challenge we must deal with. Nationally the shortage of teachers stands at approximately 43,000 in primary schools and 23,000 in secondary," the President said.

This comes a week after head teachers called upon the Government to revoke its policy to hire interns as well as merge schools that have few students.

The school principals want teachers

Last week, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KSSHA) National chairman Cleophas Tirop said the move, which he described as short-term measure to curb the shortage, would provide a win-win solution for the unions and Government.

While speaking at St Paul's High School, Kevote in Embu, the head of State emphasised that teachers are the most important resource in education and the Government will address this challenge.

Kibaki reaffirmed the Government's commitment to providing quality education and training for all.

"We appreciate that the development of our nation and the well being of our people will largely depend on the education policies that we pursue," said Kibaki.

President Kibaki added that the Ministry of Education is closely working with other education stakeholders to promote quality education, training and research.

He commended the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders who, for the last two years, have been organising a national secondary school leadership conference that brings together students from different districts to discuss issues affecting them.

The Head of State noted that during this year's national secondary school leadership conference, over 1,000 students met at the Bomas of Kenya and discussed issues pertaining to conflict resolution, governance, drug and substance abuse.

On Free Primary Education, President Kibaki said the Government in partnership with other development partners has disbursed Sh54 billion to over 18,000 public primary schools since the introduction of the programme in 2003, while Sh34 billion has been disbursed to 5,300 public secondary schools through free tuition Secondary Education programme since 2008.