GARISSA – 156 teacher-trainees students from Ijara Constituency have received sponsorship to pursue Diploma in Primary Teacher Education at Garissa Teachers Training College.
The students were accorded the support aimed at strengthening the education sector in the vast Ijara Constituency.
Ijara Member of Parliament Abdi Ali Abdi said the initiative seeks to tackle the acute teacher shortage in schools, “by empowering our own sons and daughters to become qualified educators.”
He said education remains a top priority in his development agenda for the people of Ijara.
“I am committed to ensuring every child in Ijara has access to quality learning guided by trained and dedicated teachers,” said Mr. Abdi Ali.
The legislator met the Garissa Teachers Training college board members and management on Wednesday.
Northern Kenya is grappling with a severe teacher shortage that has disrupted education in counties such as Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and Turkana.
The crisis is primarily driven by insecurity, particularly threats from Al-Shabaab militants, leading to the withdrawal of over 2,000 non-local teachers since 2015.
The exodus has left a shortfall of 4,727 teachers across primary and secondary schools, with Mandera alone requiring over 3,000 educators.
The impact on learners is profound. In the past year, more than 120,000 students have dropped out of school in Northern Kenya, exacerbating already low literacy rates and increasing the risk of youth being lured into extremist groups like Al-Shabaab.
The National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) has proposed recruiting 1,200 curriculum assistants and lowering entry requirements for teacher training colleges to encourage local enrollment.
Mandera County has established its first Teachers Training College, currently training nearly 700 future educators, and offers financial support to students through the ‘Elimu kwa Wote’ program.
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) advocates for the adoption of technology, such as digital teaching tools and distance learning platforms, to mitigate teacher shortages.
However, the success of these measures depends on sustained government support, improved security, and targeted recruitment strategies to ensure equitable access to quality education in Northern Kenya.
