Just when the Teachers’ Service Commission thought its woes were almost over after the National Assembly intervened to have the protesting JSS intern teachers employed on permanent and pensionable terms, there’s another headache yet for TSC, this time from the ongoing retooling program.
The ongoing retooling program by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for field officers who are expected to train Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers seems to be hitting all the wrong notches after it emerged that the allowances were intentionally reduced. These workshops should be noted that they are essential for preparing teachers to handle Grades 7 and 8 under the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) and Curriculum Based Assessment (CBA) frameworks, but have now been met with dissatisfaction from the field officers involved.
Quick Summary
- Key Issue: Reduced allowances for TSC field officers during retooling workshops.
- Affected Personnel: Sub County Directors of Education (SCDEs), Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs), and Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (QASOs).
- Response: TSC Head of Operations Gabriel Mathenge is seeking clarification on the funding reductions.
Background of the Retooling Program
The retooling program includes training for Sub County Directors of Education (SCDEs), Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs), and Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (QASOs) who will then train JSS teachers. The goal is to prepare educators to successfully put into practice the CBC and CBA areas in regular as well as Special Needs Education (SNE) from Junior School level all through pre-vocational stage.
Reduction in Allowances
Field officers participating in the program have raised concerns about significant cuts in their workshop allowances:
- Lunch Allowance: Reduced from KSh700 to KSh450.
- Transport Allowance: Halved from KSh1000 to KSh500.
- Stationery Allowance: Cut from KSh150 to KSh100.
- Additional Concerns: Lack of provision for water, unlike previous workshops.
Impact on Workshop Conditions
The reduced allowances have led to logistical challenges for the institutions hosting these events. The increased prices of goods have made it difficult to provide adequate meals (tea, snacks, and lunch) within the slashed budget. Furthermore, the reduced transport allowance is insufficient for covering travel costs for participants coming from distant locations, adding to their financial strain.
Official Response
Gabriel Mathenge, TSC Head of Operations, acknowledged the complaints but stated he lacked detailed information regarding the reasons behind the reduction in facilitation amounts. He noted that the program is funded by the World Bank and the Ministry of Education and pledged to seek further clarification.
Training Schedule and Participation
The training program, initially set for May 20-30, 2024, was rescheduled to May 27-June 6, 2024. The face-to-face Training of Trainers (ToTs) began on May 27 and is set to conclude on June 6. Following this, ToTs will train JSS teachers over four days from May 31 to June 1 and June 3-6.
- Regular ToTs: A total of 2,296 trainers, with Kitui County having the highest number (102) and Mombasa the lowest (23).
- SNE ToTs: A total of 304 trainers, with Kitui leading (17) and Lamu having the fewest (2).
Training Targets
TSC aims to train 59,333 regular JSS teachers and 2,235 SNE JSS teachers across the country, highlighting the program’s extensive reach and significance.