TSC receives Sh13 billion for teachers’ reimbursement settlement; work terms alter.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has been granted Sh13 billion in the 2024/25 budget estimates to implement the second phase of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) struck with unions last year, as well as an additional Sh1 billion for teacher promotions.
The wage increase of 7% to 9.5% of the base income was stretched over two years, with the first installment received in August last year. Teachers also benefited from increased housing benefits.
After the unions reached an agreement with TSC, they included it as an addition to the 2021-2025 CBA that had no monetary component.
The commission will again receive the lion’s share of the education sector budget, with a total allocation of Sh364.9 billion, up from Sh316.7 billion in the current budget. However, the National Treasury has reduced the Budget Policy Statement’s total by Sh5.033 billion.
He has earmarked Sh8.3 billion to convert 26,000 teachers from contract to permanent and pensionable terms in January of next year. The majority of these instructors work in junior secondary schools and will have completed two years of service by the end of the year. 4,000 are primary school instructors, and the remaining 22,000 are secondary school teachers.
This excludes 20,000 others who will not have served for the two years required by the commission. There is also a goal to hire 100 tutors for postsecondary institutions.
The promotion funding will help 9,000 primary school teachers and 3,000 secondary school instructors. The most recent promotions took place this year, however they excluded thousands of instructors.
The teachers’ employer has been given Sh4.68 billion to engage 20,000 extra teachers on contract. This will raise the total number of teachers hired by the Kenya Kwanza government to 76,000.
Employing 58,000 teachers.
The coalition’s manifesto vowed to close the 116,000-teacher gap by employing 58,000 teachers at a cost of Sh25 billion per year. If such monies were granted, all teachers would be engaged on a permanent and pensionable basis.
In 2019, the government launched the “internship” initiative, which recruits teachers on one-year contracts. However, following a court verdict in their favor, teachers who are now on contract have protested, requesting to be absorbed on permanent and pensionable terms.
The commission secured instructions to postpone the execution of the ruling until August. It is also appealing.
The TSC has presented its report to the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Education and Research for review. The TSC intends to employ 18,000 new teachers on contract in secondary schools and 2,000 in basic schools. The numbers are scheduled for 2025 and 2026.
“The education sector will continue to address current curriculum reforms, emphasizing teacher capacity development, e-learning, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and talent development.
As a result, the commission will continue to recruit additional teachers to ensure the successful implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum. TSC’s assessment states that the recruitment will specifically address the needs of both junior and senior schools, with an emphasis on new learning areas.
TSC receives Sh13 billion for teachers’ reimbursement settlement; work terms alter.
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