TSC Salary Increment Backdated To July. In accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement for 2021–2025, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will pay wage increments with arrears retroactive to July 1st for teachers’ August salaries (CBA).
Funds totaling Sh10 billion were given to the Commission yesterday in order to carry out the teachers CBA.
The Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, who chairs the Budget and Appropriations Committee, also restored Sh 5 billion for exam administration in a report.
According to the report, “the proposed reduction in recurrent expenditure comprises Sh10 billion from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for the implementation of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Sh5 billion from basic education for the examination waiver for the national examinations of primary and secondary schools, and Sh1.7 billion for student sponsorships at private universities.”
On 28th August, 2023, TSC signed the 2021-2025 CBA with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET).
TSC Salary Increment Backdated To July
TSC met the unions in Naivasha this year to iron out some issues in the CBA and was planning to implement the benefits in July salaries.
The Commission was to get the CBA funding through the 2024 Finance Bill which was unsuccessful.
The Treasury then proposed budget cuts and TSC was affected with key areas including CBA implementation being postponed.
TSC CBA Agreement Implementation
The agreement reviewed the remuneration payable to teachers which is to be implemented in two phases. The first phase was implemented on 1st July 2023.
The second phase was to be implemented on 1st July 2024. Teachers were to get salary changes in their July 2024 payslips but this will now happen in August.
In the agreement the House allowance rates shall be paid as categorized in four clusters. Cluster 1: Nairobi City Cluster 2: Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru Cities, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi and Kitale municipalities. Cluster 3: Other former municipalities. Cluster 4: All other areas.
House Allowance Cluster Rates
In the agreement the House allowance rates for Clusters 1, 2 and 3 were retained. However, Cluster 4 rates were reviewed to be implemented in two phases.
The first phase was factored in the August 2023 payroll with arrears backdated to 1/7/2023. The second phase will be paid with arrears backdated to 1/7/2024.
Also in the report tabled by Peter Masara, a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, critical areas like free day secondary education, free primary education, and Junior Secondary School (JSS) have been spared from rationalization.
In the new move, the Basic Education budget will rise by Sh14.3 billion to Sh131.2 billion, contrary to a previous proposed reduction of Sh14.93 billion.
TSC Salary Increment Backdated To July
This increase includes Sh11.98 billion for free primary education and Sh2.4 billion for free day secondary education.
Sh5 billion has been allocated for the administration of national examinations and assessments for almost 3.5 million learners in Grades Three, Six, and Form Four.
This includes Sh1.9 billion for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Sh3.1 billion for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
The TSC will receive an additional Sh29.5 billion for teacher resource management, with Sh17.6 billion going towards converting 46,000 intern teachers into Permanent and Pensionable terms. Sh11.9 billion will be used for teachers’ medical cover.
“The members of the public requested that the National Assembly ringfence the allocation for JSS as proposed by the TSC. The committee notes the concern by the public and is committed to enhancing the current allocation for hiring JSS intern teachers in FY 2024/25,” he said.
TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia highlighted that without adequate funding, teachers would lose their medical cover, including group life, group personal accident, and Work Injury Benefits Act (Wiba) covers. The third year of the teachers’ medical contract, set to start on December 1, will cost Sh20.6 billion.
In addition, the budget for Higher Education and Research will see an increment of Sh1.15 billion, bringing it to Sh120.4 billion.
“The public had proposed reinstating allocations for the State Department for Higher Education and Research to its FY 2024/25 levels, including a proposed Sh10 billion for the EduAfya program,” read part of the report.
Previously, the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) was to face a budget cut of Sh710 million, and the Universities Fund (UF) for scholarships was to be reduced by Sh2.6 billion from the initial Sh19.6 billion.
HELB Funding Dillema
Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala issued a warning last week during her appearance before the National Assembly Committee on Education, which was chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, stating that these cuts would make it more difficult for 153,292 students to get government support.
According to Inyangala, “many first-year students are inadequately funded as a result of government funding for students under Helb and the UF being reduced.”
In order to support ongoing activities to lessen negative effects on school attendance, nutrition, and economic stability, the committee also suggested financing the school food program.
TSC Salary Increment Backdated To July