The Kenya National Union of Teachers Garissa branch has proposed to the Teachers Service Commission a raft of measures to be undertaken with a view of ending the attack on non-local teachers in North Eastern region.
Top on the list outlined by the Secretary-General Abdirizak Hussein and his members after touring some schools within Garissa town was that the President to give a presidential decree reducing entry point grade to teachers colleges among the locals to C-.
Hussein said that upon completing high school interested individuals can join teaching fraternity as Untrained Teachers (UT) and be posted to security prone areas where they will be allowed to teach from Standard one to five and during holidays they pursue their 3year P1 training at Garissa Teachers College.
"These students upon completion, the TSC will absorb them in full terms, this is going to help greatly so that this area can have their own teachers," said Hussein.
He added that nonlocal teachers be posted to schools in the urban setup and where necessary, the County Security organ can utilize the services of Kenya Police Reservists to man schools with non-locals perceived to be a little bit out of town.
The vocal union boss said the 88 local teachers trainees expected to graduate this year from Garissa Teachers College be posted to those schools with the security threat.
He called on the national and county governments to work out a formula where these teachers can be trained and paid at their expense.
At the same time, the KNUT boss said the County is faced with acute shortage of teachers where 13 schools face closure such as Bulla Golol, Fafi, Dekaharja, Alinjugur, Amuma, Kulan, Maleilei 1and 2 and Damajaley primary schools.
In Primary, 790 teachers are needed to fill the gap in 195 schools while 33 secondary schools in the entire county still require 214 teachers.
His sentiments were echoed by Livestock Marketing Council chair Dubat Amey who said the county government should come up with long-term solutions where the three governors should convene an immediate leader’s conference to discuss education problem facing the region.
He said the county government should also give some incentives to teachers to boost their morale.
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