Intern teachers struggle to apply for TSC jobs as exercise is extended

Thousands of trained teachers across the country are facing frustration and disappointment as they struggle to apply for the 46,000 teaching positions recently advertised by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

With the application portal riddled with a web of technical failures many teachers feel they may be locked out of an opportunity they had long waited for.

The recruitment process was announced to fill 39,550 vacancies in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), 6,000 in primary, and 450 in secondary schools.

However, for many applicants, accessing the system has been a nightmare. The biggest hurdle lies in the system’s failure to send the One-Time Password (OTP) necessary for completing applications.

Maryanne Nyambura, a teacher from Nyandarua, expressed her frustration with the portal’s repeated errors.

“TSC, please sort out the error as soon as possible. We have not slept for the last two days struggling to apply,” she said.

Her experience is echoed by many others, all facing the same problem. Danson Onyango from Kisumu said the portal is either inaccessible or fails to send verification codes.

“The verification code takes centuries to arrive via SMS. Some people have been waiting since yesterday, and the October 7 deadline will not favour many applicants,” he lamented.

Similarly, David Nzioka from Makueni feels let down by the process. He believes that diversionary tactics are being used, as the portal continuously fails to send the required authentication code.

“The system is frustrating us. How can we proceed if the portal won’t send the code? This issue needs urgent attention,” charged Nzioka.

Mutai James from Kericho went a step further, suspecting deliberate foul play, reflecting the growing sense of mistrust among teachers regarding the recruitment process.

“Just say the highest bidder has got their way. This is a deliberate move to lock out thousands of applicants,” he claimed.

The TSC has acknowledged these challenges while addressing the issue through social media.

“We regret to inform you that we are currently experiencing technical challenges affecting the teacher recruitment portal. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused and kindly request your patience as we work diligently to restore the portal,” the commission tweeted.

For teachers like Hillary Kaptoet from Mt Elgon, the problems with the system run deeper than just receiving the OTP.