Gov't offers teachers more incentives to improve students' welfare

Teachers who dedicate their time to training students in music, drama, and sports will now have a direct advantage in career progression, following a major policy shift by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Speaking during the Ministry of Education Gala at the 98th Kenya Music Festival in Kibabii University, TSC Chairperson Dr Jamleck Muturi announced that the Commission is formally integrating co-curricular achievements into its promotion metrics, offering a massive incentive for educators to nurture talent beyond the classroom.

"We are considering in the career progression guidelines of our teachers that activities ranging from ball games and science congresses to creative arts and music will be part of the consideration when we are promoting you," Dr Muturi told the thousands of teachers gathered.

"I can assure the teachers who are here today that once I get the proper information from the Ministry and the festival Chairman, we will consider you in the upcoming promotions funded by the government."

Dr Muturi noted that the government has recently released funds to promote over 34,000 teachers, building on the 270,000 promoted over the last three years. However, he raised an alarm over a severe staffing crisis in the arts sector, urging universities to urgently adjust their training programmes.

"We have a very serious shortfall in music, creative arts, home science, woodwork, and metalwork," Dr Muturi warned. "I am calling upon universities and teacher training institutions to open more doors for these disciplines as students report this semester. We simply do not have enough teachers in these critical areas."

The push to incentivise arts educators is part of a broader government strategy to position the creative economy as a primary driver of national wealth.

In a speech delivered on his behalf by Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr Beatrice Inyangala, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba declared that the arts are no longer viewed as mere extracurricular hobbies, but as highly lucrative professional industries aligned with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

"According to UNESCO, the cultural and creative industries generate more than $2.25 trillion annually, contributing approximately three percent of global GDP and providing employment to nearly 50 million people worldwide," CS Ogamba noted, validating the festival's main theme: Enhancing the Creative Economy through Knowledge, Skills, and Artistic Production for Sustainable Development.

"In Kenya, music, film, fashion, theatre, and digital content creation are creating entirely new opportunities for our youth. Music is therefore no longer simply an extracurricular activity; it is an economic opportunity, a profession, and an industry," he added.

The sheer scale of this emerging industry was laid bare by Kenya Music Festival Chairman Prof. Fred Ngala, who revealed that the 2026 national edition attracted a staggering 143,000 student participants and awarded over 700 trophies. Prof. Ngala also highlighted the festival's role as a powerful equalizer, noting the participation of 13,137 learners with special needs.

However, Prof. Ngala raised a critical concern regarding gender parity in the creative arts, calling for immediate interventions to keep boys engaged in the sector.

"If you look at the gender ratio, we had about 69 percent female students and only 31 percent male students participating. This calls for affirmative action. We need to encourage our boys to concentrate more and participate in these festivals," he urged.

Host Governor Kenneth Lusaka praised the festival for its unique ability to unite the country while preserving cultural heritage, reminding the students that their performances hold weight far beyond the competition.

"Music crosses tribes, languages, and counties. A child from Bungoma can sing with a child from Mombasa; different backgrounds, one Kenya," Governor Lusaka said. "To our young people, remember that the trophy is not the destination; it is the beginning. Your talent is a gift—nurture it, discipline it, and dream for the world."

Turning this vast pool of talent into tangible wealth requires massive financial backing, a burden that corporate Kenya is increasingly taking on.

Speaking on behalf of all partners and Equity Group CEO Dr James Mwangi too, Carol Rutto, the bank’s Director and Head of Retail Banking, detailed the financial institution's commitment to supporting the festival.

She emphasised that corporate investment aims to teach students how to monetise their skills. "We are trying to ensure that the learners use whatever talents they have and make it a money-making enterprise. What will they be doing after school? How will they ensure that they don't just entertain, but actually make money out of their talents?"