Kenya to Explore International Opportunities for Teachers Amid Job Scarcity
In a bold move to address the pressing issue of teacher unemployment, Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba announced plans to facilitate the deployment of qualified Kenyan teachers to foreign countries. This initiative comes as the government grapples with a significant backlog of over 400,000 qualified teachers who remain unemployed due to financial constraints.
During a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Ogamba expressed concern over the plight of many educators, some of whom have been without work for up to a decade. “We have teachers who have been out here for 10 years, and that is really unfair,” he stated.
The government is unable to hire these teachers domestically due to budget limitations, having only announced 220,000 job vacancies thus far—a stark contrast to the vast pool of qualified professionals. To enhance the prospects for Kenyan teachers abroad, Ogamba revealed plans to register Kenya as a native English-speaking country. This strategy is aimed at boosting the nation’s profile and increasing opportunities for educators seeking employment in international markets.
“We are trying to come up with strategies to ensure that Kenya is recognized as a nation that uses English as its national language, which is critical for sending teachers out to work,” Ogamba explained.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to address job scarcity in the education sector while providing Kenyan teachers with opportunities to utilize their skills globally. As the government works on implementing these strategies, many will be watching closely to see how this plan unfolds and its impact on both local and international educational landscapes.
By Jamila Nasenya
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