The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will employ Junior Secondary Schools – JSS teachers under permanent and pensionable terms effective July 2024.
The Chairperson for the Departmental Committee on Education Julius Melly recommended that TSC should convert the 26,000 JSS teachers into permanent employment beginning July 2024, and not January 2025 as proposed.
“The conversion of the terms of service for intern teachers will boost their morale and is also an assurance of the government commitment in ensuring that all future intern teachers are converted to permanent employment after successfully completing the internship period,” he said.
Melly spoke when presenting the Education Committee’s Budget Estimates for financial year 2024/25 and the financial year 2023/24 Supplementary II, before the Budget and Appropriations Committee led by Kiharu legislator Ndindi Nyoro.
Nyoro Questions Impact of Backdating JSS teachers Confirmation
During the meeting, Nyoro asked about the financial ripple effect of backdating the confirmation to July 2024.
“Assuming there is no supplementary budget, I would want you to clarify how much it would cost to hire on permanent terms all the JSS teachers, totaling 26,000 for the first batch and 20,000 for the second batch?” Nyoro asked.
In response, Melly said TSC has been having a deficit of Ksh14.5 billion hence unable to confirm the interns into permanent and pensionable terms.
“For employing 46,000 teachers, we need Ksh28.6 billion. The Commission has been allocated Ksh4.7 billion to recruit 20,000 intern teachers for Junior Schools and Ksh8.3 billion to convert 26,000 intern teachers into permanent employment. So, we have a deficit of Ksh14.6 billion,” Melly said.
Promotion of Teachers
On promotion of teachers, Melly assured that TSC has been allocated Ksh1 billion to promote teachers who had stagnated in one job group for a long period.
“The Commission required Ksh2 billion to carry out these promotions, where Ksh1 billion was provided in this current financial year and the allocation proposed in 2024/25 will support the successful completion of this exercise where all teachers who have stagnated in various job groups for almost 17 years will benefit,” assured Melly.
Also Read: TSC to Employ JSS Teachers on Permanent Terms – Ndindi Nyoro
School Feeding Programme
Besides, Melly called on the Budget and Appropriations Committee to consider reinstating the Ksh4.9 billion school feeding programme, which was not factored in, in the financial year 2024/25 budget estimates.
“The Education Committee has reinstated Ksh2 billion under NACONEK for this important school feeding programme. However, the amount reduced from the programme was Ksh4.9 billion. The Committee recommends that the Budget and Appropriations Committee considers allocating an additional Ksh3 billion so that the entire amount is fully reinstated,” Melly said.
Other Recommendations
Other recommendations made include apportioning the 2024/25 proposed exchequer current grants of Ksh21.7 billion to various public universities to support the continuing students.
The Committee will also apportion Ksh2.08 billion to support implementation of ongoing capital projects in various public universities, research Institutions as well as ongoing projects at the TSC headquarters.
Also Read: More Than 7,000 Teachers Risk Losing Jobs After TSC Issues Notice
Intern Teachers Strike & Nyoro’s Promise
The promotion of intern teachers came days after Nyoro promised that the government will employ Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
In an interview, Nyoro said the government has set aside Ksh.300 billion in the 2024/2025 Financial Budget for the TSC to employ JSS intern teachers.
The decision also came after intern teachers boycotted teaching when schools reopened for second term demanding enhanced pay and conversion of their intern contracts to permanent and pensionable terms.
TSC has threatened to sack JSS teachers on strike.
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