NAIROBI, Kenya — The government has acknowledged a significant shortage of specialised teachers as the country prepares to transition the first cohort of learners into senior school under the new Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum. Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Implementation, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba admitted that the ministry does not currently have enough trained teachers to support the diverse senior school pathways—including STEM, social sciences, and creative arts—set to begin next year. The CS said ongoing reforms have exposed gaps in teacher deployment, with some subjects lacking adequate personnel even as schools brace for the historic shift.
The ministry is now racing to implement emergency measures, including retooling existing teachers, accelerating targeted training programmes, and reviewing staffing norms for senior schools. Ogamba told lawmakers that the new pathways require teachers with specialised competencies that were not previously emphasised in the 8-4-4 system. He noted that the situation is further complicated by the uneven distribution of teachers across counties, leaving some regions critically underserved. We must ensure every learner accesses qualified teachers in the pathway they choose, he said, warning that failure to address the gap could undermine the success of CBE implementation.
Education stakeholders say the teacher shortage adds pressure to an already strained system, with schools simultaneously preparing for national examinations and navigating recent audits that exposed staffing inconsistencies, ghost learners, and administrative inefficiencies. Many principals have reported financial constraints and infrastructural gaps, fueling concerns about readiness ahead of the January transition. Despite the challenges, the ministry maintains that the senior school rollout will proceed as planned, promising further updates on teacher recruitment and training in the coming weeks.