The efforts of the government and local leaders to implementing a local education solution in the north-eastern region, is bearing fruit, with an increase in students enrolling in Teachers’ Training colleges (TTCs).
Over the years, the region is grappling with a teacher shortage, particularly in schools due to the widespread withdrawal of teachers from Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties due to insecurity and terror fears.
Local leaders, including governors and parliament members, are advocating for attitude change and encouraging local youth to enroll in teaching courses.
However, to entice the youths, various leaders started offering full sponsorships for students joining the teaching colleges to improve enrolment.
Furthermore, the ministry of education reviewed the entry grade to TTCs from a requirement of a mean grade of C (plain) with specific marks in specific subjects to just a minimum of C (plain) which has reduced under-enrolment into TTCs.
On the other hand, the director general at the state department for basic education Elias Abdi speaking during a county education dialogue on the status of the implementation of the CBC in Garissa said that the government has also opened more Teachers’ Training colleges in the region.
While calling on more enrolment to the teaching courses, the director affirmed that, there has been attitude change among the local young people and that the community is now in the forefront in encouraging people to pursue teaching careers.
“In the last two years, teacher enrolment in Garissa County has improved from just 50 to about 1,200 and these teachers are mainly from the region. In Wajir, we have close to 200 first-years now in the TTCs, while in Mandera; the enrollment is almost 2000 students,” Abdi said.
Lastly, “When all these teachers graduate, we will have a good supply of local labour from the local communities who will be actively participating unlike in the past when we used to rely on teachers from other parts of the country,” he added.
By Erick Kyalo
