Why TSC Delays Permanent & Pensionable Hiring for Intern Teachers until 2025
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in Kenya recently announced that the 20,000 teachers recruited on contract terms in February will have to wait until January 2025 before they are given permanent and pensionable jobs.
This revelation came during a session with the National Assembly’s Education Committee, where TSC boss Nancy Macharia addressed concerns regarding the employment status of these teachers.
Teachersupdates.co.ke explore the reasons Why TSC Delays Permanent & Pensionable Hiring for Intern Teachers until 2025 and the impact it may have on the education system.
The Need for More Teachers:
To address the shortage of teachers in junior secondary schools (JSS), the TSC plans to recruit an additional 20,000 teachers on contract in the upcoming financial year.
However, even with this recruitment, the number of teachers falls short of the actual requirement. The cost of this recruitment is estimated to be around Sh4.7 billion.
Resource Constraints and Employment Terms:
According to Ms. Macharia, if the TSC were to change the terms of employment to permanent and pensionable, it would not have sufficient resources to recruit the additional teachers needed for JSS.
This decision has caused concerns among the contracted teachers who were hoping for permanent positions sooner.
Replacement Recruitment:
While the contract teachers will have to wait for permanent positions, the TSC assured the committee that teachers recruited to replace those leaving through natural attrition would be offered permanent and pensionable terms.
This approach aims to strike a balance between addressing the shortage of teachers and ensuring employment security for educators.
Quality of Teaching and Qualifications:
Addressing concerns about the quality of education, Ms. Macharia emphasized that the teachers on contract are qualified, and the quality of teaching will not be compromised.
The TSC has been allocated Sh322 billion in the 2023-2024 Budget Policy Statement, indicating the government’s commitment to supporting the education sector.
Challenges and Pending Issues:
Despite the recruitment efforts, there are still over 300,000 unemployed teachers in Kenya.
Additionally, delays in payments to JSS teachers have been reported, with approximately half of them yet to receive their salaries.
Ms. Macharia attributed the delay to late reporting from the schools where they were posted.
Promotions and Pay Deal:
The TSC faces challenges in promoting teachers who have been stagnant in the same grades for an extended period. They have requested Sh2.2 billion to address this issue.
However, there is no indication of a new pay deal for teachers in the budget estimates. Unions have called for a renegotiation of the non-monetary collective agreement signed in 2021.
Conclusion:
The delayed provision of permanent and pensionable jobs for contracted teachers in Kenya has raised concerns about employment security and the overall quality of education.
While the TSC strives to address the shortage of teachers, resource constraints pose challenges in meeting the demand.
It is crucial for the government and the TSC to find a balance that ensures both the welfare of teachers and the quality of education in the country.
Why TSC Delays Permanent & Pensionable Hiring for Intern Teachers until 2025
