TSC Introduces Teacher Export Policy to Address Massive Unemployment
TSC is rolling out a teacher export policy to help unemployed educators find work abroad. Here’s how it works and who benefits.
In a bold and unconventional move, the Teachers Service Commission has unveiled a teacher export policy aimed at easing Kenya’s growing unemployment crisis among trained educators.
With over 900,000 registered teachers and fewer than half employed, the commission has acknowledged that domestic absorption alone cannot solve the problem. According to Dr Reuben Nthamburi, unemployed teachers will now be supported to pursue opportunities in foreign education markets where demand for qualified educators remains high.
The policy is designed to position Kenyan teachers as globally competitive professionals. Kenyan teacher training is widely respected across Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, particularly in mathematics, sciences, and English language instruction.
Under the export framework, TSC will facilitate documentation, credential verification, and data sharing with international recruiters. This marks a shift from passive registration to active labour mobility support.
The initiative is particularly relevant for teachers who have remained unemployed for years, including older graduates who face shrinking chances of local recruitment. Rather than waiting indefinitely for limited vacancies, these educators can now access alternative career paths abroad.
Beyond employment, the policy carries economic benefits. Teachers working overseas contribute through remittances, skills transfer, and international exposure — strengthening Kenya’s human capital profile.
However, experts caution that export should complement, not replace, domestic investment in education staffing. Kenya still faces teacher shortages in technical subjects, meaning careful balancing is required to avoid exporting skills needed locally.
The teacher export policy signals a new reality: teacher employment is now global, and Kenya is adapting accordingly.
