Gov't to employ 40,000 teachers by 2026

By Newsflash Reporter

The government has unveiled plans to recruit 40,000 teachers by the close of 2026 in a bid to address the growing teacher-student imbalance in public learning institutions.

According to Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, 24,000 teachers will be employed by the end of this year, with an additional 16,000 set to be hired beginning next year.

This move is part of a broader strategy to bring on board a total of 116,000 teachers over a five-year period. The announcement comes just as the National Assembly’s Education Committee recommended a budget allocation of Sh7.3 billion to the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC). These funds are intended to convert 20,000 intern teachers to permanent status starting in July. Earlier, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) had told legislators that no funds had been set aside to absorb intern teachers recruited in January 2025 for a one-year term.

“The committee calls upon the BAC to allocate Sh7.3 billion to ensure that current interns are absorbed once their terms end later this year,” reads the Education Committee’s proposal in its 2025/26 budget report to the BAC. In April 2025, the TSC raised concerns over a deepening shortage of qualified educators in the public school system.

Rising deficit and ongoing recruitment

Appearing before the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee, TSC CEO Nancy Macharia revealed that the country faces a deficit of 98,261 teachers, a number expected to increase with the roll-out of senior secondary schools in 2026. “As it stands, including junior secondary staffing, we are short of 98,261 teachers,” she said.

Speaking during Baringo High School’s 60th anniversary, PS Bitok reiterated the state’s dedication to tackling the teacher shortage. He confirmed that a massive hiring effort is currently underway. “The government has resolved to hire 24,000 teachers this year who will be placed on the TSC payroll. Presently, the state has employed 76,000 teachers. With the 24,000 planned this year, we’ll reach 100,000. The remaining 16,000 will be brought in next year.”

He added, “We made a commitment to hire 116,000 teachers within five years. This target is in line with the promises in the Kenya Kwanza education agenda.”

While addressing Parliament, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba disclosed that 343,485 registered teachers have yet to be absorbed into the public education workforce. This figure includes 84,510 post-primary, 124,061 primary, and 134,914 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) instructors.

“Based on teacher registration data, 343,485 qualified teachers remain unemployed by TSC. The commission has yet to confirm how many ECDE teachers have been hired by counties, but efforts are underway to gather this information on a county-by-county basis,” Ogamba told lawmakers.

The CS further explained that hiring of public school teachers depends on a range of factors, including funding, budget approvals, and the availability of sanctioned positions.

“The commission constantly tracks staff shortages in schools and swiftly replaces any teachers who exit to ensure smooth curriculum implementation,” Ogamba said. “In line with the administration’s focus on equipping graduates with job skills, the commission also utilizes an internship framework to engage unemployed teachers,” he added.