Broke TTCs ask state for lifeline

Teachers Training Colleges on the brink of collapse are urging the government to urgently come to their rescue.

Baringo TTC-Seretunin senior principal Lorraine Mukoya said there has been a massive drop in students’ enrollment over the last two years.

“Previously we use to admit up to 800 students but currently we have a paltry 250. Only 50 of these are boys. We expect the number to drop even further,” Mukoya said.

She spoke during a CBC public participation forum at the Kenya School of Government- Kabarnet in Baringo on Tuesday.

The principal attributed the situation to banning and replacing of P1 teacher training with diplomas, “a thing which has locked out majority of Form 4 leavers from joining TTCs,” she said.

Mukoya said only 1,100 students qualified to join the available 32 public teachers colleges across the country last year, among them Baringo, Shanzu, Togotho, Migori and Egochi.

“Advancing TTC entry grades from D+ and C- to C plain has had a negative impact on enrollment in our teachers colleges,” she said.

The principal further said upon advertisements, majority of the students could not meet the required C plain in compulsory subjects like English, Kiswahili and sciences, to join TTC.

She however warned the issue might end up causing a serious crisis of qualified teachers in the country.

“In as much as the government is keen to replace the 8-4-4 system with CBC it should also look at ways to revamp teacher training colleges and check on the imminent shortage,” Mukoya said.

She said due to low enrollment, teacher colleges are poorly managed with meager resources.

The principal said students and staff in teachers colleges operate in dilapidated structures due to negligence by the government, “we really require our dignity restored back.”

“Baringo Teachers, the only institution established and well equipped by former president Daniel Moi, is in a sorry state,” she said.

Mukoya further urged the government to speak well and market teacher colleges, to restore their lost glory.

She said the government needs also to relook into training more teachers who will in turn take good care of learners.

The principal also called on the government to consider paying support staff directly, other than assigning principals the responsibility.

County officials also recommended that Early Childhood Development Education teachers be employed and enumerated by the Teachers Service Commission.

They said currently the ECDE sector has been devolved to counties but accompanied with a serious shortage of resources.

Those who attended the forum were representatives from Kenya National Union of Teachers, Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association, Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association, special schools, Baringo government and Kenya Private Schools Association.