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Maurice Michael Wechune, a 38-year-old teacher from the western Kenyan town of Bungoma, has been on a waiting game for 14 consecutive years in his quest to be employed by the Teachers Service Commission.
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He has consistently submitted applications for several TSC posts annually, yet the merit-based classification has consistently overlooked him
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Currently working at a private school, Wechune’s salary of KSh 10,000 a month leaves him struggling to make ends meet by providing a meal for his four children.
Maurice Michael Wechune, a 38-year-old instructor from Bungoma, has faced an ongoing struggle with unemployment despite having graduated 14 years ago from Bungoma Teachers’ College.
Wechune possesses Teachers Service Commission registration number 659831 and has persistently submitted job applications to the Teachers Service Commission every year since his graduation in 2010, yet so far, he has faced rejection.
Working at a private school, a father of four has a monthly income of approximately 10,000 Kenyan shillings, a salary that barely covers his family’s expenses.
Faith Ogganya, his sister, highlighted the hurdles Blessings faced in trying to secure a job with TSC.
“My brother tries every year, but the selection committee’s selection is based on a merit list. Unfortunately, he’s never been chosen. The school is too crowded, and applicants are required to apply through our rural council’s district offices in at least two sub-counties,” she clarified.
Faith noted that TSC has been assigning interns 50% of available positions, making it a challenge to even secure an internship.
Individuals residing in marginalized communities, where waiting periods are quite lengthy, are provided with a limited number of appointments, with barely twenty-seven spots allocated in Bungoma Central.
The massive influx of candidates and priority given to interns have made it nearly impossible for individuals like Wechune, who have been on the waiting list for more than ten years.
Unfortunately, he requires an upgrade to improve his situation, yet it comes at a price of five additional marks, which he cannot currently afford.
For Wechune, being without a TSC appointment has not only career-consequentially impacted him, but it has also started to affect his private life.
The instructor struggles to make ends meet with a modest income while anxiously waiting for his name to be included on the elusive list of outstanding educators recognized by the Teaching Service Commission.
In the private school setting, Wechune remains committed to sharing his knowledge with his students.
