Updated Information On School Re-Opening Third Term
As schools prepare to reopen for the third term, the situation remains tense due to unresolved issues raised by teacher unions, particularly concerning the pay agreement and confirmation of Junior School (JS) teachers. The outlook is grim, with little hope that these issues will be resolved before the term begins.
Key Issues Affecting School Reopening:
- Budget Cuts Impacting Teachers’ Compensation:
- Budget Reduction: The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) CEO, Dr. Nancy Macharia, revealed that the budget cuts following the rejection of the Finance Bill 2024 have significantly impacted the TSC’s operations. The overall recurrent budget has been slashed by Ksh10.28 billion, reducing the gross recurrent budget from Ksh357.77 billion to Ksh347.49 billion.
- Delay in CBA Implementation: Due to these cuts, the second phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expected to commence in July 2024 has been delayed. This phase is crucial for the promised pay adjustments for teachers.
- Confirmation of Junior School Teachers:
- Delayed Confirmation: The confirmation of 46,000 intern teachers in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) has been postponed to October instead of July 2024. Additionally, the recruitment of 20,000 new teachers has been pushed to January 2025. This delay has further exacerbated the frustration among teachers.
- Teachers’ Welfare and Medical Contracts:
- Medical Cover Shortfall: The budget for teachers’ medical cover, group life insurance, personal accident, and Work Injury Benefit Act (WIBA) has been slashed by 50%, leading to a Ksh11.89 billion shortfall. This reduction means that the TSC will struggle to meet its commitments for the third year of the medical contract, beginning in December 2024.
- Impact on Teacher Training: A reduction of Ksh262 million on training expenses will affect the TSC’s ability to train teachers on the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), as the number of teachers trained will need to be scaled down.
- Strike Notice by KUPPET:
- Seven-Day Strike Notice: In response to the revelations by Dr. Macharia, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) issued a seven-day strike notice. The union demands the immediate disbursement of overdue funds for the teachers’ medical scheme, full implementation of the 2021-2025 CBA, and the confirmation of intern teachers by the end of July 2024.
- NSSF Deductions Controversy:
- Mandatory Contributions: The recent directive by TSC for teachers to contribute to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has sparked further discontent. Teachers, who already contribute to the Public Service Superannuation Scheme (PSSS), are now required to register with NSSF and make additional deductions from their salaries. This move has been met with resistance, as it adds to the financial burden on teachers.
Conclusion:
The upcoming school term could be disrupted if the government and TSC do not address these pressing concerns. The budget cuts have significantly hampered the TSC’s ability to implement key initiatives, leading to delays in pay agreements, teacher confirmations, and training programs. With KUPPET issuing a strike notice, the situation remains volatile, and the reopening of schools may not proceed smoothly if these issues remain unresolved.
