SRC Explains Why Teachers Got Biggest Salary Increase
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) received the lion’s share of the Ksh. 21,7 billion salary budget for 2023–2024.
According to Lyn Mengich, chairman of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), the significant increase in teacher compensation is in line with the commission’s objective to harmonize pay for state and public officers.
Teachers rank at the 36th percentile on the average Current Gross Market, making them the lowest-paid civil servants in Kenya.
Mengich stated on Thursday during an interview with Spice FM that the reevaluation of teacher salaries is intended to achieve equity and impartiality in compensation.
Mengich explained that they had established a goal of reaching the 50th percentile, aiming to position themselves at the market’s median. She further stated that they had assessed the current placement of each sector relative to that percentile.
Mengich mentioned that the Teaching Service was positioned at the 36th percentile. She explained that this justified the significant allocation of funds to the Teaching Service.
She further stated that the intention was to gradually elevate them to the 50th percentile, aiming to standardize the salary structure.
She clarified that the purpose of this pay review was to achieve pay harmonization. Without this objective, across-the-board salary increments would have been implemented.
The SRC chairman added that the review was consistent with market trends and the country’s economic climate.
Mengich explained that they engage in such practices to ensure that the public service can draw and maintain the necessary skills for effective service delivery. They emphasized the importance of aligning the pay with market trends to achieve this goal.
Mengich also addressed the issue of guaranteeing a fair minimum wage for all public officers, stating that this was one of the pay review process’s top priorities.
The new pay structure will be implemented in two phases over the course of two years.
The most recent review resulted in a 7-10% salary increase for state and public employees, effective from 1 July 2023 to 1 July 2024.
SRC Explains Why Teachers Got Biggest Salary Increase