It is anticipated that the country’s teaching workforce would face further strain if senior high school is introduced under the Competency Based Education framework. The Teachers Service Commission claims that the system is already severely short-staffed and that the senior-school rollout in 2026 could make the shortfall worse.
Current estimates indicate that Kenya is short of tens of thousands of teachers across junior and senior secondary levels. The Commission has repeatedly described the situation as a structural challenge. Officials argue that staffing has not kept pace with education reforms, enrolment growth or the specialised subjects introduced under competency based learning.
LEARNING PATHWAYS
The senior school model requires teachers for distinct learning pathways including science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as arts and vocational subjects. Many of these areas depend on specialised expertise that remains limited. Training institutions have produced qualified graduates, but not in the numbers required to cover every region and subject.
The Commission has undertaken retraining programmes to prepare teachers for the new system. Thousands have gone through retooling sessions in recent months. Even so, TSC considers the current effort insufficient without additional recruitment and sustained funding.
BUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS
Budget allocations have allowed only a small portion of the required staff to be hired in the past financial year. Officials believe that the gap will continue to widen if no new resources are provided.
Education analysts warn that the consequences may be felt in classrooms almost immediately after the transition. Larger class sizes, reduced subject options and overstretched teachers are among the concerns. Some schools may be unable to offer all pathways, forcing students to settle for available subjects rather than those aligned to their interests or career plans.
TEACHER SHORTAGES
Rural and marginalised counties remain at higher risk of teacher shortages. Past recruitment cycles have shown uneven deployment across the country, often favouring urban or better resourced regions. Stakeholders worry that this pattern could undermine equitable access to specialised subjects at senior level.
In statements delivered in recent months, TSC has appealed for increased budgetary support to hire more teachers before the January 2026 transition. The Commission insists that the success of competency based education depends on the presence of trained, available and well distributed staff.
The senior school phase marks a major reform milestone. However, without workforce expansion, the Commission believes the system could struggle to deliver the intended skills based and learner focused approach. The coming year will determine whether recruitment efforts match the scale of the change now underway.