A House committee has raised concerns that teachers may strike after the government slashed the Teachers Service Commission recurrent budget by KSh 10.2 billion, a move that may derail the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between TSC and the teachers’ unions.
Committee’s Report
The Departmental Committee on Education considered the Supplementary Budget Estimates No. 1 for the FY 2024-25 for the Ministry of Education and TSC. The report reveals that KSh 10 billion of the reduced amount was for the implementation of the CBA.
Key Points
Salary Increments at Risk
Chair Julius Melly: The budget cut implies that the teachers will not get the salary increment, which had been provided in the CBA. This warning could lead to industrial unrest, paralyze education in public schools, and probable legal rows.
“Industrial unrest is something this government may not wish to deal with at this time, given the current unease in the country. Hence, the need to ensure that this allocation is provided,” the committee advised.
TSC Budget Reductions
TSC chief executive Nancy Macharia said that while testifying, the recurrent budget for TSC had been slashed by KSh 10,281,147,858 to just KSh 347,492,589,260 from KSh 357,773,737,118. The development budget has been cut by KSh 38 million, now standing at KSh 404,329,000 from KSh 442,329,000.
Implications for the CBA
The second phase, which was to start running from July 1, 2023, was under the allocated KSh 10 billion. The 2021-2025 CBA amendment signed in August last year had a salary increment of up to 9.5 percent spread over two years.