TSC Outlines Plans for Intern Teachers Recruitment and Confirmation on Permanent and Pensionable Terms
The 20,000 teachers hired on contract in February will not receive permanent and pensionable positions until January 2025, according to the head of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
To increase junior secondary school (JSS) enrollment, TSC plans to hire 20,000 additional contract teachers in the fiscal year beginning in July, according to Nancy Macharia. However, this figure will fall short of what is required.
The cost of recruitment is Sh4.7 billion. Ms. Macharia explained that if the commission altered the terms of employment to permanent and pensionable, it would be unable to recruit the additional JSS teachers required.
She added, however, that teachers hired to replace those who left due to natural attrition would be hired on permanent and pensionable terms.
The CEO insisted that all contracted teachers are qualified and that the teaching quality will not be compromised.
In the Budget Policy Statement for 2023–2024, the TSC is allocated Sh322 billion.
In 2019, TSC began recruiting contract instructors, referred to as trainees. When recruiting permanent and retired teachers, they are typically given preference and scored higher than candidates who are not enrolled in the program.
The “stipend” for interns in primary schools is Sh15,000, while those in secondary schools receive Sh20,000.
Despite a staffing shortage in schools, there are more than 300,000 unemployed teachers, according to the number of teachers who register for jobs when they are advertised.
Ms. Macharia admitted that approximately half of the teachers assigned to JSS had not been paid, but attributed the delay to the fact that they did not all report at the same moment from the schools where they were assigned.
The head of the TSC stated that the commission requires Sh2.2 billion to promote teachers who have remained in the same grade for an extended period of time.
There is no indication in the budget projections of a new compensation package for teachers.
The unions have requested a renegotiation of the nonmonetary collective bargaining agreement they signed with the employer in 2021.
The commission has, however, allocated Sh6 billion for joint cadre promotions and annual salary increases.
The chief of the commission, Julius Melly, requested that TSC devise a formula for determining the number of teachers required for JSS.
The Kenya Kwanza administration had pledged to hire 116,000 teachers within the next two fiscal years.
Mr. Melly also advocated for effective supervision of instructors in order to maximize the government’s return on investment.
Ms. Macharia stated that the TSC required Sh300 million to finance its activities and programs at the county and sub-county levels.
TSC Outlines Plans for Intern Teachers Recruitment and Confirmation on Permanent and Pensionable Terms