The government Wednesday ruled out lowering entry points for teacher training colleges to D+ from C in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education as a solution to the teacher crisis in the northeastern region.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Education Committee, Education CS George Magoha and Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia warned that such a move would compromise the quality of education.
The two also defended the decision to transfer 2,340 non-local teachers from the region, saying their safety was important and is guaranteed in the Constitution. They urged local leaders to play a role in protecting them.
For now, Prof Magoha said, leaders from Garissa, Mandera and Wajir counties should support the government’s efforts to have about 24,000 students who scored C between 2015 and 2019 join teacher training colleges so that they can replace non-locals who are fleeing due to terrorist attacks.
He said the government would provide funds for Form Four leavers to join Mandera TTC and Garissa University.
Dr Macharia said affirmative action should not be about lowering entry grades and that quality is important.