20,000 teachers to get jobs in S. Sudan
By PHILIP MULEE
THE eagerly awaited recruitment of Kenyan teachers to Southern Sudan is to be implemented with an estimated 20,000 teachers expected to get jobs early next year.
Education assistant Minister Dr Kilemi Mwiria on Friday confirmed that 15,000 primary teachers, 3,000 secondary school teachers and 50 technical school teachers have already been hired for jobs in Southern Sudan.
Southern Sudan is under reconstruction after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) ended the two decade civil war that claimed million lives.
He also disclosed that chances are being explored in Botswana to have more Kenyan teachers hired there.
Dr Mwiria speaking during the graduation of primary school teachers at Igoji Teachers Training College said the government was releasing teachers to be employed across the region as a measure to reduce the big number leaving training colleges.
“The government is aware that thousands of teachers are graduating every year and it is its responsibility to ensure they get jobs”, he said.
He said the government was in the process of employing 11,000 primary school teachers this financial year to cushion the shortage in schools and address Free Primary Education (FPE).
Dr Mwiria overruled blanket secondary school waiver for students whose Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KSCE) certificate are held by the government over fees arrears. He said only genuine cases will be considered saying a big number of students’ parents were able to pay the fees arrears.
Deputy Speaker who is also the Mwingi South MP David Musila is spearheading the campaign challenging the government to release held KSCE certificates. He sponsored a private motion that was passed by the House urging the government to release the certificates.
Dr Mwiria was clarifying on the matter after the government confirmed willingness to release the certificates.
On teacher recruitment, Dr Mwiria said the government’s plans to dispatch thousands of teachers to Southern Sudan as a part of its policy to ensure that those graduating are employed. Senior government officials of Kenya and the Southern Sudanese authorities began talks in August last year to seek ways to help the latter develop its educational system.
The week-long bilateral discussions, culminated into the signing of an educational agreement.
