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Proposed TSC Bill Teachers’ Allowances to be Improved in New TSC Bill

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Proposed TSC Bill Teachers’ Allowances to be Improved in New TSC Bill

If a new Proposed TSC Bill is approved, teachers will benefit from improved allowances.

Kenyan teachers will benefit from a more structured and transparent permit system under this new legislation now before parliament.

Mandera South MP Abdul Haro is the sponsor of the Teachers Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which aims to change the TSC Act of 2012 to provide well-defined parameters for teacher allowances.

The majority of Section 32A of the plan outlines making the often informal procedure of hiring teachers for acting positions more official.

Additionally, the Bill introduces a new “Schedule Four,” which categorizes nine various types of allowances. These grants cover acting allowances, reader’s facilitation, responsibility, special school, transfers, leave, hardship, commuting, and housing.

Only the responsibility allowance will be pensionable, which is significant.

If one receives it until retirement, the others will be eligible for a pension.

The measure also suggests modifying Section 11 of the TSC Act to require the Commission consult the Salaries and Remuneration Commission before disbursing any allowances.

According to Hon. Haro, the purpose of these changes is to enhance fairness, legal clarity, and accountability in the distribution of benefits to teachers.

He emphasized that a legal foundation would guarantee that these advantages are disbursed consistently and not determined at random.

Given the extensive demands for thorough assessments of pay and benefits from teacher unions like KNUT and KUPPET, it was appropriate for the legislation to be introduced at this time.

These unions are calling for a rise in basic pay, a hazard allowance for science instructors, and compensation for labor performed on public holidays.

KNUT has also asked that teachers in difficult and under-resourced regions be given additional credits and that acting instructors, who are usually deputy heads, be compensated even if they are not formally appointed.

It has been asked that the public participate in this measure, and that they submit it to the Departmental Committee on Education no later than May 9, 2025.

The legislation would, in theory, simplify payments, promote transparency, and boost teachers’ morale if it were approved.

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See the nine TSC allowances that MPs are proposing in a Bill that will establish additional allowances for teachers.

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See the nine TSC allowances that MPs are proposing in a Bill that will establish additional allowances for teachers.

The Teachers Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to improve the system and equity of teacher allowances, has been brought before the Kenyan Parliament. To establish a clear and predictable framework for paying teachers’ allowances, the measure, sponsored by Mandera South MP Abdul Haro, aims to change the Teachers Service Commission Act of 2012.

The bill’s Main Provisions

Introduction of Specific Allowances: The measure creates a new “Schedule Four” that lists nine different kinds of allowances that teachers can be given under certain circumstances:

Housing Stipend
Allowance for Commuting
Hardship compensation
Allowance for Leave
Transfer Allowance
Special School Allowance
Reader’s Facilitation Allowance
Allowance for Responsibility
Act Allowance

The responsibility allowance is the only one of these that is pensionable if it is earned up to and including the day of service’s conclusion; the others are not.

Appointments for Structured Acting

In order to establish a formal procedure for hiring teachers in acting positions, the statute establishes Section 32A. It stipulates that if a teacher satisfies all established qualifications, they may be appointed in an acting capacity for a period of at least thirty days and up to six months. A special duty allowance will be given to teachers who play acting roles, and they may only hold one acting position at any given moment.

When setting the allowances due to teachers, the statute mandates that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) confer with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), guaranteeing openness and uniformity in compensation.

Participation by the Public

In accordance with Standing Order 127(3) and Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution, the National Assembly has asked the public and stakeholders to send the Departmental Committee on Education their comments and memoranda on the bill by May 9, 2025.

In the middle of a growing movement by teachers’ unions calling for higher wages and better working conditions, this legislation has been introduced. Under its proposed collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the TSC, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has suggested a 60 percent increase in base salary and higher allowances.

In a similar vein, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (Kuppet) has demanded that the minimum wage be increased by between 50 and 100 percent, along with other benefits such as a risk allowance for science instructors.

If enacted, the Teachers Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is predicted to establish a fairer and more organized system for teacher allowances, addressing longstanding concerns and raising the standard of living for teachers nationwide. This will boost teacher motivation and, consequently, raise standards.

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Teachers in Difficult Areas Request 40% Allowance

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Teachers in Difficult Areas Request 40% Allowance

Teachers working in challenging circumstances have requested that 40 percent of their basic pay be added to their hardship allowance.

These teachers, who are affiliated with the Kenya Teachers in Hardship and Arid Areas Welfare Association (KETHAWA), are requesting a change to the upcoming collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) that will be signed prior to June 30, 2025, to include the aforementioned allowance.

KETHAWA currently observes that the hardship allowance given to teachers in remote and arid areas does not adequately address their needs.

The association claims that it is the only allowance that specifically addresses the miserable circumstances in which teachers work, including insecurity in certain areas, isolation, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of essential services.

Teachers state that the policy does not reconsider the grant, thus they will still be discriminated against depending on their posting location.

Their colleagues who work in more conducive settings do not have the extra hardships associated with teaching in remote areas and instead enjoy better circumstances.

KETHAWA is calling on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the appropriate government bodies to give their appeal serious consideration and make sure the new CBAs accurately reflect the challenges faced by educators in difficult areas.

According to the lobby, increasing the hardship allowance will not only encourage fairness but also inspire teachers to stay in these challenging positions for improved educational outcomes and service delivery in underserved areas.

Negotiations for new terms are now underway as the existing CBAs are set to expire on June 30, 2025. The instructors are, however, optimistic that all of their requests will be fulfilled before the due date.