The proposed 100% transition has hit a dead end after legislators failed to increase the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) budget. The National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriation Committee only approved an increase for only 5,000 teachers.
As per the Committee led by Kikuyu legislator Ichung’wah Kimani, the 5,000 teachers shall be permanently employed, and on pensionable basis at a cost of Sh2 billion. This is against the wish by TSC which sought to incorporate 25,000 teachers at a cost of Sh15.4 billion.
This simply means that TSC will continue hiring the 10,000 intern teachers at Sh1.2 billion expensive effective July 2019. Additionally, schools will be forced to rely on teachers employed by the Board of Management (BoM).
TSC boss Ms. Nancy Macharia said the 318,000 teachers are overworked and thus the need to increase numbers. The condition has been made worse by the 100% primary to secondary transition, which is now in its third year.
“Our teachers are being overworked by the competence based curriculum and the 100 per cent transition,” stated Nancy Macharia.
Following the 100 per cent transition adoption, learning facilities have been congested with this year alone registering 1 million entrants into secondary schools. TSC had initially suggested an annual recruitment for 12,000 teachers since the 100% transition adoption three years ago. This was in efforts to address teachers’ shortage.
The 2019-2023 strategic plan by TSC showed that the commission would require Sh82 billion to employ teachers for the next five years. This would enable it to curb the shortage that currently stands at almost 100,000, and likely to hit 120,000 by 2023.
Sh16.4 billion is the annual financial requirement by TSC to employ teachers. Currently, the estimated shortage ranges between 96,345 for primary teachers and 58,291 for secondary. Presently, schools’ management boards have recruited 80,000 teachers.