The Teacher Service Commission (TSC) faces a significant challenge in hiring 46,000 junior secondary school teachers on permanent and pensionable terms. This issue arises after the Treasury allocated only 13.4 billion shillings for the initiative, falling short by 5 billion shillings from the 18.7 billion shillings appropriated by the National Assembly's Budget and Appropriations Committee. Initially, the TSC had informed Parliament that it required 30 billion shillings to convert the contracts of all 46,000 teacher interns to permanent and pensionable terms.

Budget Allocation and Shortfall

For the financial year 2024-2025, the education sector received a substantial allocation of 656.6 billion shillings, which included 38.2 billion shillings specifically set aside for the TSC. One of the key priorities for the TSC within this allocation is the hiring of junior secondary school teachers. The National Treasury proposed 13.4 billion shillings for converting the 46,000 junior secondary school (JSS) intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms. This figure was supplemented by an earlier proposal of 8.3 billion shillings by the Budget and Appropriations Committee, targeting the conversion of 26,000 teachers.

Impact on JSS Teachers

The proposed allocation brought relief to JSS teachers, who had recently been on strike demanding better pay and permanent contracts. Under current terms, a JSS intern teacher on a one-year contract receives a 20,000 shilling monthly stipend, which reduces to 17,000 shillings after statutory deductions. With the conversion to permanent and pensionable terms, these teachers would start with a basic salary of approximately 30,000 shillings, along with various allowances such as housing, commuter, leave, and medical insurance, depending on their location of deployment.

Salary Adjustments and Allowances

The transition from internship to permanent employment significantly impacts the teachers' earnings. Currently, JSS intern teachers take home around 17,000 shillings monthly. Once confirmed, their salary will increase to about 52,000 shillings. For those in municipalities and cities, additional allowances will further enhance their take-home pay. In contrast, primary school teachers under the new terms will see their salaries increase to around 26,000 shillings.

Call for Supplementary Budget

Teachers are now advocating for a supplementary budget to address the 5 billion shilling deficit, ensuring that all 46,000 intern teachers are accommodated in permanent positions. The teachers emphasize unity in their demands, rejecting any division among the 46,000 interns. They reference a court ruling which stated that it is illegal for any of the interns to remain on temporary contracts, reinforcing their stance for full conversion to permanent and pensionable terms.

Additional Pressures on TSC

In addition to the budget shortfall, the TSC is under pressure to reinstate 742 JSS intern teachers whose contracts were terminated due to professional misconduct allegations. This adds another layer of complexity to the already challenging situation faced by the TSC.

As the education sector navigates these financial constraints and demands, the resolution of these issues remains crucial for the stability and development of junior secondary education in the country.