TSC Warns Budget Slash Puts Teachers’ Medical Scheme, CBA at Risk

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is facing significant challenges following a proposed Ksh 10.3 billion reduction in its budget for the 2024/25 financial year. The National Assembly Committee on Education has raised concerns over these budget cuts, which threaten critical areas such as teacher recruitment, training, and the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

TSC CEO Nancy Macharia highlighted that the cuts would primarily impact recurrent expenditure. This reduction could hinder the commission’s ability to recruit 20,000 teachers in October 2024 and convert 46,000 interns to permanent status. Additionally, the implementation of the CBA signed with teacher unions in August 2023, which includes a salary increase of up to 9.5 percent over two years, is at risk due to the proposed budget cuts.

Committee Chair Julius Melly expressed concern about the implications of these cuts on teacher recruitment, promotion, and the execution of the CBA. The budget reductions also affect teacher training, with a Ksh 262 million decrease in the allocation for this purpose. Furthermore, the provision for medical cover, group life, and personal accident cover for teachers has been halved, resulting in a Ksh 11.89 billion shortfall. This shortfall jeopardizes the continuation of the current three-year medical scheme for teachers in its third year.

Melly underscored the importance of adequate funding for the Ministry of Education and the TSC. “We ask Treasury to appropriate adequately. If it’s not funded, core ministries like Education and TSC will be crippled,” he stated. The committee has directed the National Treasury to identify additional sources of funds to support the implementation of the CBA, the medical scheme, recruitment of Junior Secondary School interns, and teacher promotions.

The development budget for the TSC has also been reduced by Ksh 38 million, affecting ongoing capital projects, including the construction of county offices and the Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning Programme. Moreover, the committee noted that the budget cuts could impact the administration of national examinations scheduled for later this year, as the entire allocation for examination waivers, totaling Sh5 billion, has been removed.

Overall, the education sector budget has been slashed by Ksh 33.3 billion, impacting all three State Departments under the Ministry of Education, as well as the TSC. The committee’s concerns highlight the critical need for adequate funding to ensure the smooth operation and development of the education sector in Kenya.