Recruitment of JSS Intern Teachers Is Pending Due To Budget Cuts – Macharia.
Due to financial cuts, the 20,000 new teachers and 46,000 intern teachers under the Junior Secondary School (JSS) may not be able to continue their careers as promised by the government.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) on behalf of the Ministry of Education had promised to hire the 46,000 intern teachers by July; however, it now appears that January of the following year will be the earliest that they may start work.
Following the government’s rejection of the finance bill 2024 and budget cuts brought on by austerity measures, the 20,000 new teachers will have to wait until October of this year.
According to commission Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nancy Macharia, National Treasury has instructed them to use 15% of their present budget, which is limited to paying salaries for those who are employed.
“We have informed Treasury in writing of the things that the reduction will impact. We don’t have enough cash by the end of the month to implement it. We have to spend fifteen percent of our budget on warranties, which implies that we are paying salaries, according to Macharia.
This month, the government intends to spend Sh18.3 billion hiring all of the JSS teachers who are presently completing internships.
President William Ruto announced that the government would only borrow Sh169 billion of the Sh346 billion budget deficit caused by the collapse of the finance bill.
Government-teacher disputes are expected as a result of budget cuts made during the current fiscal year, which will have an impact on the execution of the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the medical coverage program.
Macharia informed MPs that their overall budget had been cut by Sh10 billion in the supplemental budget estimates for 2024–2025, indicating a delay in the second phase of the CBA agreement’s implementation.
The teacher’s unions, led by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), may hold rallies in response to the move even before the dust settles on the Generation Z-sponsored demonstrations.
“We have informed Treasury in writing of the things that the reduction will impact. We don’t have enough cash by the end of the month to implement it. We have to spend fifteen percent of our budget on warranties, which implies that we are paying salaries, according to Macharia.
Following an agreement between TSC and teachers’ unions, teachers were scheduled to receive a base wage hike of up to 9.5 percent beginning on July 1, 2023.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET), and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) signed the agreement.
In addition to salary increases, the CBA agreement covered various terms of service for special needs education (SNE) teachers, such as workload, career advancement, and promotions. Teachers classified as Cluster members also received increases in house allowance.
Macharia noted that the teacher’s union and the commission will have a strained working relationship as a result of lawsuits brought about by the CBA’s delays, which could result in fines.
“A CBA that you sign with a union is deposited in court as proof of your obligation to carry out. Thus, we will be involved in litigation and appear to be operating dishonestly,” she stated.
Julius Melly, the chair of the committee, emphasized that they will not permit the Treasury and TSC to have any influence over the CBA implementation, as it will have a nationwide impact on education.
“You know that if your CBA is violated, there will be a strike. So why do you just go ahead and make a reduction in an area where you have committed? Or are you putting yourself at risk?” he asked.
Phylis Bartoo, a Moiben MP, questioned why, in light of the current national turmoil, the National Treasury was rearranging a crucial budgeted item that dealt with employee personal benefits.
“We don’t want to see teachers lose their jobs due to retained benefits at this crucial time,” the speaker stated.
However, Luanda MP Dick Maungu leveled accusations at the teacher’s employer, saying that instead of reallocating funds to other areas in response to budgetary constraints, the employer chose to postpone the implementation of the CBA.
“Why did the National Treasury order the TSC to cut their budget by Sh 10 billion, and why did they choose to discuss the CBA? You are to blame for this issue, Maunga shot back.
He expressed regret about the TSC’s impending demise, saying, “We are inviting trouble and we must do what we have to do.”
Teachers may encounter difficulties in obtaining essential health care due to the 50% reduction in the medical cover system, which has left a Sh 11.8 billion deficit.
The three-year framework contract for the medical scheme under Minet was in its second year of implementation, and services including group life, group personal accident, and WIBA were no longer offered.
The government already has an arrangement with the provider, thus there will be litigation on this medical scheme issue. Because it cannot function, secretariats and teachers will be impacted, according to Macharia.
Budgetary reductions on ongoing expenses, which included wages for more than 400,000 teachers nationwide, from Sh 357B to Sh 347B have been the driving force behind the scenario.
A portion of the development projects impacted are top priorities for the Kenya Kwanza Administration. The development budget was also slashed, going from Sh 442 billion to Sh 404 billion.
Recruitment of JSS Intern Teachers Is Pending Due To Budget Cuts – Macharia.
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