Over 356, 000 teachers seeking for employment, have turned in applications for the 14, 000 vacancies advertised by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in Kenya, last month.
The turnout further deepens concerns for the high rate of unemployment that has plagued the country for quite some time now.
Following the large number of applicants, it is expected that the recruitment exercise will be stiffer than usual, to ensure that the best hands are selected. Sadly, this also means hundreds of thousands will be left out yet again with no hope of a job in sight.
Ironically, there has shortage of teachers in public primary and secondary schools in the east African country.
TSC has detailed that for each of the advertised positions, only the top five applicants will be shortlisted to ease the process of selection.
It is expected that successful candidates will resume officially on September 1, 2022.
The Commission will be deploying 1,230 teachers in the region on both permanent and pensionable and contractual basis.
“To qualify for recruitment, a candidate must be teaching under board of management in Garissa, Mandera or Wajir counties, if not hailing from the three counties,” TSC chief executive, Dr Nancy Macharia said while revealing available vacancies to residents.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, places youths in the 20 to 24 and 25 to 29 age brackets within the highest proportion of the unemployed at 16.3 per cent and 9.1 per cent respectively.
Politicians jn Kenya have leveraged on the situation, making high promises of jobs for unemployed teachers and other youths if elected into office.
Presidential aspirants; Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party presidential candidate Raila Odinga, and his main rival, Deputy President William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance have promised mass employment of teachers if elected into office.