TSC- New August Allowances to following teachers’ Job Group
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has introduced new allowances designed to attract and retain teachers in special schools, addressing the critical shortage of educators in these institutions. This announcement was made by TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia during her appearance before the National Assembly’s Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee.
New Allowances Introduced:
- Readers Facilitation or Aid Allowance:
- This allowance is specifically targeted at teachers who are blind, deaf, mute, or physically disabled, acknowledging the additional challenges they face in their roles.
- Special School Allowance:
- Teachers with special education skills will receive this new allowance, in recognition of the specialized work they perform in special needs schools.
These new incentives are in addition to the existing hardship and commuter allowances, reflecting the TSC’s commitment to improving conditions for teachers in these challenging roles.
Addressing the Teacher Shortage:
Ms. Macharia informed the committee, led by Hon. Adan Haji, that the current shortage of teachers in the country’s special needs schools stands at 5,362. In response, the TSC has adopted a phased approach to deploying new teachers due to budget constraints.
- Recent Deployment: In May, TSC hired and deployed 1,763 teachers to various special needs schools.
- Upcoming Deployment: An additional 3,600 teachers are scheduled to be posted in September this year, January next year, and June next year.
Tailored Staffing Norms:
The TSC has also implemented a unique staffing norm for special needs schools, carefully considering the type and severity of disabilities among learners.
- Class Size:
- For mentally handicapped learners, the class size is limited to four students.
- For physically handicapped learners, the class size is set at 15 students.
This approach aims to ensure that teachers can provide adequate attention and quality education to special needs learners.
Committee Feedback:
During the session, Hon. Liza Chelule, the Committee’s vice chairperson, praised the TSC’s efforts but highlighted that more needs to be done to improve conditions in special needs schools. She referenced the committee’s findings from visits to special needs schools in the Coast, Nyanza, Western, and Rift Valley regions, where they observed that both the schools and working conditions for teachers were often deplorable.
Hon. Fred Ikana, Shinyalu MP, added that the hardships faced by teachers in these schools discourage others from seeking employment in special education, further exacerbating the shortage.
The TSC’s initiatives, including the introduction of these new allowances and phased teacher deployment, are part of broader efforts to enhance the welfare of teachers and ensure better educational outcomes for students in special needs schools.
