The Gap Between Teacher Demand And Supply In Secondary Schools In Kisumu District Kenya (2002- 2007)

ABSTRACT

In order for a country to achieve its educational goals, the teacher

demands and supply is a key important factor to be considered. Kisumu

District being one of the largest Districts in Kenya had progressively been

having high teacher demand since the freeze of teacher's recruitment in

1997 by the government. The problem became worse when the impact of

free Primary Education started being felt in Secondary schools.

The District had realized high enrolment rate from 2004 to 2007, yet the

supplies of teachers by the government could not meet the demand. As a

result of the above, the researcher wanted to ascertain the real gap that

existed between the demanded teachers and the actual number that were

currently coming in the 71 secondary schools in the district.

The researcher sampled 10 secondary schools randomly in the district

for the purpose of the study and concluded that most of the schools are

grossly understaffed with many teachers in various subjects/discipline

were in adequate. Physical facilities were also below the required number

of the students to use them. The classrooms were highly congested as

the number of students per class could reach as high as 51. The pupils

teacher ratio of 51: 1. This is against the education Act of Kenya which

requires that a teacher handles only 40 students in classroom. It was to

realization of the researcher that despite the fact that Kenya has got good

number of trained teachers in secondary school courses, the number

employed by Teachers Service Commission was still very low.

Because of the high enrolments in secondary schools, many schools were

supposed to be established. In every division there ought to have been at

least five schools established to cater for the increment.

As a result of students in secondary schools, it is suggested that more

schools be established to minimize the high student teacher ratio

increase. Due to the progressive increaser of students in secondary

schools occasioned by high transition rates; it also suggested that more

class rooms to be established in most of the existing secondary schools.

The Government had also to employ more teachers to cater for the

increased number of students.