Kenyan Teachers Relocate to the US for Better Opportunities.
Many Kenyan teachers are leaving their homeland for better opportunities in the US. They face inadequate pay, demotivation, and poor working conditions. This trend highlights the pressing issues in Kenya’s education system, prompting a closer look at the reasons behind this exodus.
Kenyan teachers, even those with government jobs, often feel insecure due to poor policies. Silvia Wanjiru, who started her teaching career in 1987, dedicated decades to elementary education without receiving a single promotion. Despite earning a degree in 2013 to secure a promotion, her efforts went unrecognized by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). Feeling demotivated, she began the process of relocating to the US between 2021 and 2022. She credits Dr. Peter Ruhiri and Pesuah International for assisting her in this journey. Wanjiru, who single-handedly raised and educated her three children, now looks forward to a fresh start in Maryland.
Similarly, Mary Kamau, an English teacher for 11 years, found her salary insufficient to support her family. She began her journey to the US in May 2023 and is now ready to board the plane. Kamau hopes to advance her education by obtaining a master’s degree and dreams of returning to Kenya to share her newfound knowledge.
Pay Disparities and Job Satisfaction
Teachers interviewed by Education Point expressed their frustration over the significant pay disparity between them and other civil servants. Despite their crucial role in shaping the nation’s future, teachers continue to face financial challenges. Beatrice Wanjiku, a special education teacher for over 30 years, is also set to relocate to the US. Despite her dedication to teaching children with autism, she has struggled with inadequate income. Wanjiku hopes the US will offer better infrastructure for handling special needs education.
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In Ruiru, while signing contracts for well-paying jobs in America, these educators urged the government to improve teachers’ remuneration. They warned that the ongoing exodus could deprive Kenya of its brightest minds, potentially lowering the quality of education offered to learners.
Qualifications and Opportunities Abroad
To qualify for teaching jobs abroad, one must have a degree in education, the ability to handle the discipline of learners in the US education system, and a passion for working in a new environment. Felix Wanyaga, who has taught for about six years, is another teacher excited about relocating to the US for better opportunities. He emphasized the need for the government to pay teachers well to prevent the loss of skilled labor to other countries.
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The mass exodus, coupled with the number of teachers retiring or dying each month, could further strain a sector already facing a shortage of over 100,000 tutors. Dr. Peter Ruhiri, CEO of Pesuah International, noted that the US faces a shortage of trained teachers. Ruhiri, who taught in the US for over 20 years, started the agency three years ago to help African teachers move to America for better opportunities. On July 30th, 100 teachers from Africa, including 70 from Kenya, will leave for the US. These teachers will work in Baltimore, earning up to Ksh400,000 per month, with those holding a master’s degree and over ten years of experience earning over Ksh1 million a month.
The Future of Kenyan Education
Ruhiri’s program, which began with 10 teachers from Kenya and 30 from other African countries, now faces high demand, with thousands more seeking to relocate. The organization aims to recruit more teachers to work in US district schools facing shortages. Of the estimated 8.1 million teachers in the US, approximately 857,200 are immigrant teachers, with nearly half being post-secondary educators.
The mass departure of teachers from Kenya to the US underscores the urgent need for reforms in the Kenyan education system. Addressing issues such as pay disparities, job satisfaction, and working conditions is crucial to retaining talented educators. Without these changes, Kenya risks losing more teachers to countries that offer better opportunities and conditions.
In conclusion, the exodus of Kenyan teachers to the US highlights significant challenges within Kenya’s education sector. Addressing these issues is essential to ensure that the country retains its talented educators and provides quality education for future generations. As more teachers seek better opportunities abroad, the Kenyan government must take immediate action to improve the working conditions and remuneration of teachers to prevent further brain drain.
Kenyan Teachers Relocate to the US for Better Opportunities.
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