In a bold move to address Kenya’s growing teacher unemployment crisis, the TSC has launched the Mwalimu Majuu program, a government-backed initiative to export unemployed teachers to foreign countries. The program is under President William Ruto’s administration and will provide thousands of teachers with international teaching opportunities while generating remittances to boost Kenya’s economy.
Kiswahili Teachers First to Get Jobs Abroad
The latest batch of exported teachers includes those with Kiswahili subject combinations, who have been deployed to Qatar, earning up to Ksh 170,000 per month. Both Diploma and Degree holders in Kiswahili have benefited from this program.
The government plans to export 354,234 unemployed teachers, to diverse teaching positions in 17 countries.
Who Can Apply?
TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia has confirmed that both unemployed and employed teachers (including interns) can apply for international jobs. However, employed teachers must resign before being considered for foreign placement.
To be eligible, a teacher must:
- Be a Kenyan citizen
- Have completed training and graduated with a Degree, Diploma, or Certificate in Education from a recognized institution
- Be registered with the TSC
- Meet the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution (Integrity and Leadership)
- Meet any additional host country requirements (such as specialized training, professional certifications or language proficiency)
Fast-Tracked Passport and Mandatory Medical Tests
The Kenyan government has put in place fast-tracking measures for teachers securing jobs abroad. Those placed under the program will get their passports within three days of application.
However, teachers must undergo mandatory medical tests before departure. These tests will cover:
- Infectious diseases such as HIV, Yellow Fever, Hepatitis, TB, HPV and STIs
- Drug use through substance abuse testing
- Mental health assessments to determine psychological fitness
Countries to Export Teachers
TSC’s policy framework has been developed in response to requests from foreign governments for Kenyan teachers. Some of the targeted countries include:
1. English Teachers Needed In:
- USA, Ireland, Germany, France, Canada, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, Russia, Spain, China, UAE
2. Kiswahili Teachers Needed In:
- South Africa, Thailand, China, France, Botswana, Japan
3. Special Needs Education Teachers Needed In:
- Kuwait, Japan, UAE
4. Islamic Religious Education & Science Teachers Needed In:
- Qatar
TSC’s Role in International Teacher Placement
To ensure a streamlined and secure teacher export process, TSC has:
- Developed a policy framework to guide international teacher deployment
- Works with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Labour to open up job markets abroad
- Has set criteria for selection focusing on essential skills, qualifications and experience
- Has an orientation program covering security, medical, transport, remuneration, cultural adaptation, host country education systems
- Advocates for standardized contracts to include salary, work hours, benefits, housing, insurance and repatriation terms
Challenges and Issues
Despite the promise of jobs abroad, the Mwalimu Majuu program has gotten mixed reactions:
- Critics say the government should focus on creating jobs locally instead of sending teachers abroad
- Concerns over bad working conditions in some countries, especially in the Middle East
- Kenya still has a teacher shortage, with schools having staffing gaps—especially in junior secondary schools
High Unemployment Among Teachers
The teacher unemployment crisis has been a long standing issue in Kenya. When the TSC advertised 46,000 vacancies in October 2024, it received 314,117 applications, showing the huge job shortage in the sector.
President Ruto had pledged to hire 116,000 teachers in two years but financial constraints are making it hard to achieve.
Mwalimu Majuu and Teacher Database Development
To make it easier, the TSC is developing a digital database of teachers who want to go abroad. This database will:
- Allow teachers to apply online
- Store personal details, academic records and work experience
- Provide real time matching with job openings abroad
- Have a feedback system for continuous improvement
The policy framework for teacher export will be reviewed every three years to address emerging challenges and opportunities.
Conclusion
Mwalimu Majuu is a strategic initiative to address teacher unemployment and position Kenyan teachers in the global job market. While it’s an opportunity for career growth, international exposure and extra pay, there are concerns over local teacher shortages and working conditions abroad.
As the government expands the program, we will see if this will be a sustainable long term solution or a temporary fix to Kenya’s teacher employment crisis.