The future of 46,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers hangs in the balance following President William Ruto’s directive to cut government expenditure in response to the rejection of the Finance Bill. This move has significant implications for the education sector, with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) facing substantial budget reductions.
On Friday, President Ruto instructed the National Treasury to prepare supplementary estimates aimed at reducing expenditure by the amount of revenue that was expected to be generated by the rejected Finance Bill. The bill, which the President declined to sign, has been sent back to the National Assembly with instructions to delete all clauses. As a result, the government will need to reduce spending by Ksh346 billion across all three arms of government, including ministries, departments, and agencies.
One of the most affected areas is the education sector. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is set to receive Ksh18.9 billion less than initially budgeted. This reduction will force the TSC to postpone the confirmation of 46,000 JSS intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms. These teachers, who have been eagerly awaiting their confirmation since 2023, now face uncertainty about their future employment status.
The budget cuts do not stop there. The state department for Higher Education and Research will see its budget slashed by Ksh8.3 billion, significantly impacting the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), which will lose Ksh3.2 billion. This reduction is expected to result in many students missing out on crucial funding for their education.
Infrastructure projects within the education sector are also taking a hit. The budget for school infrastructure projects has been reduced by Ksh3 billion, while the Differentiated Unit Cost has been cut by Ksh2.1 billion. The state department for Basic Education faces a reduction of Ksh3.4 billion, with the school feeding program losing Ksh1.8 billion and school infrastructure projects seeing a reduction of Ksh1.6 billion.
Additionally, the state department for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions will see its budget reduced by Ksh800 million. This cut will affect ongoing projects in TVET and Technical Training Institutes (TTIs), further hampering the development of vocational education in the country.
President Ruto’s directive has placed the education sector in a precarious position. The TSC’s inability to confirm JSS intern teachers to permanent positions could lead to a significant disruption in the education system, affecting both teachers and students. The reduction in funding for higher education and infrastructure projects further compounds the challenges facing the sector.
As the National Treasury works on aligning the budget to the revised fiscal framework, the education community remains hopeful that alternative solutions can be found to mitigate the impact of these budget cuts. The fate of thousands of teachers and students now rests on the government’s ability to navigate this financial crisis without compromising the quality of education in Kenya.
