The rate of alcoholism among teachers in Murang’a has reduced in the recent past after the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) embarked on sensitizing the tutors on the impacts of the vice. Murang’a TSC Director, Mr. Fredrick Ng’ang’a, said between January and March this year, eight teachers who were addicted to alcoholism were taken for rehabilitation services. He observed that three of them have completed the rehabilitation and have gone back to teaching. Ng’ang’a admitted that alcoholism, which the government is currently fighting, has been a big challenge to the teaching fraternity, saying the TSC under the wellness section has moved to rehabilitate those addicted instead of interdicting them. Sacking or interdicting addicted teachers, as the director noted, is not a solution, and this may create more challenges, including an increasing shortage of teachers in the county. He noted that alcohol addiction among teachers causes poor teaching and frequent absenteeism, thus lowering the quality of education given to learners. ‘After rehabilitation, the reformed teachers are given the option to choose a school they prefer to work at and are assigned a mentor to guide them so as to avoid falling back into alcoholism. Teachers taken for rehabilitation are those who have admitted they have the problem and are ready for assistance,’ Ng’ang’a told KNA in his office on Wednesday. He added that those joining the service are inducted and thoroughly sensitized on the effects of alcoholism and drugs. ‘Beginning of this year, 788 teachers were employed in Murang’a County. The new teachers have been taken through sensitization sessions about alcoholism and drugs, and this move we have witnessed has helped to lower the rate of alcoholism among teachers,’ he added. Ng’ang’a said teachers are supposed to be role models and lead by example, calling on them to avoid indulging in excessive alcoholism, which has many negative impacts. ‘Teachers have to be on the frontlines in the fight against alcoholism, which has affected many young people, especially from the central region. The move to induct those joining the service is to ensure the new teachers don’t indulge themselves in alcoholism, among other drugs,’ added the director. Meanwhile, Ng’ang’a said the county has a shortage of 1, 027 teachers for Junior Secondary Schools and 1, 257 teachers for secondary schools. ‘We have a shortage of 143 teachers for primary schools, and we are currently recruiting teachers to replace those who have left the service,’ he remarked.

Source: Kenya News Agency