The Kenya National Union of Teachers wants the government, through TSC, to employ at least 30,000 more teachers.
Speaking in Eldoret on Friday, KNUT Eldoret West Branch Chair Francis Soi said that education contributes to national development through production of quality human resources, hence the need for government to invest more in it.
Soi added that there was a high shortage of teachers in the country leading to less impact on students.
“In response to the acute shortage of teachers, we demand immediate employment of at least 30,000 new teachers by the commission,” Soi said.
KNUT National vice secretary added that the ratio of teacher to student in Kenya was overwhelmingly discouraging.
“While the teacher student ratio should be 1:45, amazingly in most parts of Kenya, the teacher pupil ratio is 1:80 - 100 pupils,” Matiangi said.
He added that the current 5,000 teachers the government, through the Ministry of Education was employing is not enough.
“We are at a deficit of approximately 80,000 teachers," Matiangi said.
The teachers also called upon TSC to promote teachers, citing that promotions were long overdue.
“Some teachers went back to school so that they can be promoted. All they get is an acknowledgement letter,” Matiangi retorted.