Grade 10 learners who chose to study technical subjects in senior school under the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pathway have remained untaught since January due to lack of specialised teachers in technical subjects, it can be revealed.
With only two weeks left to the end of the First Term, principals of senior schools have now raised the alarm over the shortage of specialised teachers in technical learning areas under the competency-based education (CBE).
The most affected areas include technical subjects such as metalwork, sports science, aviation, building and construction, electricity, agriculture and marine and fisheries.
Other subjects lacking teachers include, Creative Arts, Home Science, Mandarin, Marine studies. According to data from the Ministry of Education, about 60 percent of the 1.2 million learners (roughly 677,144) are enrolled in the STEM pathway. However, data indicating the specific subject combinations they chose is not yet available.
TSC estimates a need for 35,111 teachers across 15,046 classes. Social Sciences requires 14,630 while Arts and Sports requires 8,778 teachers.
The teacher shortage has forced schools to hire technical instructors through their various boards of management (BoM) funds, further straining their lean budgets.
The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA), noted that the staffing challenge is universal across all the senior schools.
“We have a serious staffing deficit. Under CBE, we need qualified personnel for specialised subjects like aviation, marine technology, and building and construction. Currently, we don’t have these staff. I doubt there is a school in the country that is fully equipped with these teachers,” said national chairperson of the association, Mr Willy Kuria.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha) National Chairman Willy Kuria addresses principals attending the 48th Kessha conference in Mombasa on June 24, 2025.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
The KESSHA boss, who is also the chief principal of Murang’a High School, revealed that schools are digging deep into their pockets to bridge the gap.
“Principals are being forced to source for these professionals independently because the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has yet to provide them. These specialists are scarce in the labour market; you have to literally tarmac [sic] to find someone capable of teaching building and construction,” he added.
Deployment of technical teachers
Mr Kuria urged the Ministry of Education and universities to fast-track the training and deployment of technical teachers to ease the burden on school administrators.
Previously, the TSC has acknowledged the shortage but assured principals of a solution. Speaking during a virtual summit with the school leaders hosted by the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, last week, acting TSC Chief Executive Officer Ms Evaleen Mitei said the commission is seeking external partnerships to address the gap.
Grade 10 learners from Langalanga Senior School in Nakuru County attend a Chemistry lesson on February 5, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
“There are indeed staff shortages in creative arts, sports science, and technical areas like electrical work. We are working with the Kenya School of TVET to identify qualified technical professionals who can be absorbed into our secondary schools,” said Ms Mitei.
TSC data indicates that while there are 132,335 teachers currently serving in senior schools, the specialised nature of the new curriculum has outpaced traditional staffing models. Ms Mitei further promised that the next recruitment cycle TSC would prioritise these high-need areas.
“In our upcoming advertisement, we will specifically target these new learning areas to fill the gaps. We understand that these teachers are currently unavailable in the required numbers, and it is a top priority for the commission,” she said.
As TSC turns to Kenya School of TVET to source for the tutors, TVETs in the country are also grappling with a shortage of trainers, leaving most institutions with few tutors.
Last week, the chairman of the Kenya Association of Technical Training Institutions (KATTI), Mr Shadrack Tanui appealed to the Public Service Commission to finalise the recruitment of 1,000 trainers to ease the pressure.
“The ongoing recruitment exercise for the 1,000 trainers is almost to be concluded in some few weeks. We are appealing to the commission to consider releasing them to report to our stations in April to stabilise our institutions with quality TVET training,” said Mr Tanui during a graduation ceremony in Kericho.
Last year, TSC met educationists including vice chancellors and principals of teachers training colleges to deliberate on the shortage of skills for the new learning areas. TSC Director of Quality Assurance, Dr Reuben Nthamburi, urged the institutions to train for the job market after revealing that some technical subjects lack teachers.
“Some schools have actually dropped even doing home science because we do not have home science teachers. I am wondering what happened to the universities that used to train Home Science? Why did you decide to stop that subject?” Asked Dr Nthamburi.
“I do not know what you will also do with home science teachers, because even if we employ them, they will leave because they want to start a bakery for making cakes. That is the reality we are facing, a number of them have left and when you meet them, they have a bakery and they are doing better than…so that is an issue,” said Dr Nthamburi.
