Going by the TSC estimate for recruiting the annual quota of new teachers, the government needs an additional Sh46 billion to implement the TSC proposal at a go.

With the number of secondary school teachers now at 80,000, the increased population would reduce the average teacher student ratio to 1:40 next year from 1:35 this year.

Although this is at par with the ratio recommended by Unesco, some national schools that are in high demand have ratios ranging between 1:50 and 1:70 in order to make maximum use of available teachers and facilities.

Mrs Macharia asked teachers to be innovative to ensure that they do not compromise standards of teaching and learning.

The concerns over the teaching force come as the selection of 128,838 students who will join extra county schools was done across 10 centres in the country.

Just like after the selection for national schools, many students were disappointed after missing out on their schools of choice.

SELECTION

Some of them petitioned the government to review the selection criteria to enable them join their dream schools.

Students are allowed to select nine schools — four national, two extra-county, two county and one sub-county — but few are admitted to the ones they chose once they miss their first choice.

Students said their choice is based on the secondary school's performance, discipline, all-round facilities, unique courses offered and, in some cases, proximity to their homes.

Of those who missed their schools of choice, Justin Kirui, who scored 413 marks, said his dream to pursue aviation at Mang’u High School was now in abeyance after he was admitted to Chewoyet High school in West Pokot.

Lynette Wambui, who scored 409 marks, was posted to Mbooni Girls in Machakos County instead of Kenya High in Nairobi.

“I went for Kenya High School as my first choice because of the good performance,” she said, adding that her parents would help her decide whether to join it.