By Joel Okwayo

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has opposed plans to hire teachers at the constituency level.

Knut Chairman George Wesonga said the Government should review the proposal because it would impact negatively on education standards. He said teachers should hired in any part of the country without involvement of politicians.

"The Teachers Service Commission should remain the only body that hires teachers," he said.

The union also maintained its opposition to hiring teachers on contract.

Wesonga said it would be better for the Government to employ less teachers on permanent basis.

He said the Education sector requires permanent solutions to problems facing it, including shortage of teachers.

"Temporary strategies such as hiring of teachers on contract is not going to address the problems we have. We took a stand and we will not back-track," Mr Wesonga told The Standard on the telephone, on Monday.

In his Budget Speech on Thursday, Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta said the Government had set aside Sh1.3 billion to hire teachers on contract.

plan defended

Education Secretary George Godia defended the plan to hire more teachers on contract, saying the move would address the current shortage.

Mr Godia said the move would support schools’ Board of Governors (BOGs) to deal with the crisis.

He said BOGs in many schools have been forced to hire teachers to address the shortage.

"When the Government hires teachers on contract, we will simply be taking a little load of the BOGs," he said in Busia at the weekend.