TSC now requests for Ksh 30.4B for confirming intern teachers and Minet Cover

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is requesting an extra Ksh30. 4 billion to secure the confirmation of 46,000 interns on permanent and pensionable terms, and to also acquire insurance for teachers.

In a report submitted by TSC Chief Executive Nancy Macharia to the National Assembly’s Education committee, headed by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, of the Ksh30. 4 billion, Ksh13. 8 billion is allocated for employing the 46,000 interns on permanent and pensionable contracts starting January 2025.

Among the 46,000 teachers, there are 21,550 junior secondary school teachers, 4,000 primary school teachers who were hired in February 2023, 18,000 junior secondary interns, and 2,000 primary school interns who were onboarded in September 2023.

“The revised allocation (Supplementary Two) does not meet the commission’s personnel emoluments needs by Ksh30. 4 billion,” the report states.

This request follows Education CS Migos Ogamba’s confirmation last year that the 46,000 Junior Secondary School teachers would be permanently employed under pensionable terms starting January this year. The CS indicated that this confirmation aligns with commitments made to the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut).

The hiring of intern teachers was initiated to address the shortage of teachers in schools and was accelerated as a rapid-response program to supply teachers for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).

“We will also recruit an additional 20,000 teachers in JSS to ensure that we have adequate staff for our students to receive quality education,” Ogamba commented.

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Minet Health cover

The document presented to the House indicates that Ksh9. 3 billion will be allocated for contributions towards the medical health insurance group life cover for teachers, Ksh4. 3 billion is earmarked for funds not disbursed for the fiscal year 2023/2024, while Ksh3. 06 billion is needed to fill budget shortfalls for that same financial year.

In 2015, TSC entered into a Ksh53 billion medical insurance agreement with Minet Medical Insurance Brokers to provide medical services for teachers and their dependents, allowing them access to unlimited outpatient and inpatient services at chosen healthcare facilities.

They were also expected to benefit from an annual maternity service coverage of Ksh120,000, an optical coverage of Ksh60,000, and a dental coverage of a maximum of Ksh40,000.

During the first year, the contract was effective from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023, with a cost of Ksh14. 89 billion.

In the second year, the contract will run from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024, where the insurance provider is anticipated to receive Ksh17. 93 billion; in the third year, which will start on December 1, 2024, and end on November 30, 2025, the insurer is set to receive Ksh20. 668 billion.

Concurrently, the State Department for Basic Education needs an additional Ksh22. 6 billion to fulfill its operational duties.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang disclosed that of the total requested, Ksh3. 9 billion is necessary to support the targeted 2. 6 million learners, yet only Ksh900 million has been allocated in the supplementary estimates (SE).
“The budget necessity for the second term 2025 academic year (65 days) is Sh3. 4 billion. This budget will support all types of learners within the programme. However, an additional allocation of Sh900 million has been suggested under SE II. Therefore, the essential minimum supplementary budget required for the second term and the outstanding bill of Sh1. 4 billion is Sh3. 9 billion,” the PS clarified.

Additional funding

The free day junior secondary school education, Kipsang stated, will need extra funds amounting to Sh16. 10 billion to support all learners in public junior schools.

He clarified that the capitation requirement for junior schools for Grades 7, 8, and 9 is Sh46. 5 billion, which includes the Special Needs Education figure of Sh453 million to accommodate the increased enrolment of 3. 2 million learners from January to June, rising from 2. 1 million learners between July to December of the previous year.

“The initial allocation did not account for learners entering Grade 7 in January 2025. Learners are accommodated at the rate of Sh15,042 and an additional Sh35,730 for learners with special needs and disabilities,” he mentioned.

The Kenya National Examination Council, he noted, necessitates a budget of Sh742 million to cover the council’s non-discretionary expenses, board expenses, and to address the shortfall under personal emoluments.

He expressed disappointment that the council was incorrectly classified among Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs), which are expected to finance their expenditures via respective Appropriation-In-Aid (AIA), resulting in a zero allocation.

He also revealed that they require Sh300 million to settle pending bills related to ICT integration in schools.