TSC Introduces Special Allowance To Teachers. In an effort to draw and keep teachers in special education, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has implemented new benefits.
Nancy Macharia, the CEO of TSC, made this declaration in front of the Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee.
The Committee was informed that 5,362 instructors are now needed in the nation’s special needs schools.
Ms. Nancy Macharia told the committee, chaired by Hon. Adan Haji, during her presence on Tuesday that teachers who are physically impaired, blind, deaf, or mute now have access to a Readers Facilitation or Aid allowance.
“Special school allowances have also been introduced for teachers with special education skills,” said Ms. Macharia.
She further explained, “These incentives are in addition to standard allowances such as hardship and commuter allowances, recognizing the extra challenges these teachers face.”
Regarding the teacher shortage, the CEO explained that TSC hired and deployed 1,763 teachers to schools in May.
She added that in September this year, and in January and June next year, an additional 3,600 teachers will be posted to schools.
“Due to budget constraints, the Commission has developed a phased approach to deploying teachers to special needs schools to address the shortage,” she noted.
TSC Introduces Special Allowance To Teachers
The Commission has also developed and implemented a unique staffing norm for special needs education schools, taking into account the type and severity of learners’ disabilities for each teacher.
For instance, the class size for mentally handicapped learners is set at four students, while for physically handicapped learners, it should be 15 students,” she added.
This move is intended to ensure teachers can give adequate attention to special needs learners.
“The fewer the number of special needs learners per teacher, the better the provision of quality services,” Ms. Macharia said.
The session was presided over by Hon. Liza Chelule, the vice chairwoman of the Committee, who praised the Commission for its efforts to enhance the welfare of teachers in special needs schools but pointed out that more work remained.
“The Committee discovered that the schools and instructors in the Coast, Nyanza, Western, and Rift Valley areas functioned in appalling conditions when they toured special needs schools,” the MP for Nakuru County stated.
According to Shinyalu MP Hon. Fred Ikana, the difficulties experienced by special school teachers deter other people from applying for positions in these settings, which adds to the scarcity.