Potential Teacher Strikes Loom as MPs Warn of Budget Cuts
A House committee has expressed concern that teachers may initiate strikes due to the government’s decision to cut the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) recurrent budget by Sh10.2 billion.
This reduction significantly affects the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the TSC and teachers’ unions.
The Departmental Committee on Education’s report on the Financial Year 2024-25 Supplementary Budget Estimates No. 1 for the Ministry of Education and TSC highlighted that Sh10 billion of the budget cut was specifically allocated for the CBA implementation.
The report indicated that the reduction jeopardizes the planned salary increments for teachers as outlined in the CBA.
Recurrent Budget Reduction
- Initial Recurrent Budget: Sh357,773,737,118
- Reduced Recurrent Budget: Sh347,492,589,260
- Total Reduction: Sh10,281,147,858
Development Budget Reduction
- Initial Development Budget: Sh442,329,000
- Reduced Development Budget: Sh404,329,000
- Total Reduction: Sh38,000,000 (funded by the Government of Kenya)
Implications of the Budget Cut
Committee Chair Julius Melly reported that the budget reduction might lead to industrial unrest and disrupt teaching and learning in public schools.
He warned of potential legal challenges arising from unmet financial commitments. The committee emphasized that the government should restore the allocation to facilitate the second phase of the 2021-25 CBA implementation.
Melly advised that the government might not be prepared to handle industrial unrest, given the country’s current unease, making it crucial to ensure proper funding.
TSC’s Response
TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia addressed the committee on May 14 and 15, 2024, explaining that the overall recurrent budget of the commission had been decreased by Sh10,281,147,858.
Macharia acknowledged the budget cuts’ impact, noting the new gross recurrent budget of Sh347,492,589,260, down from Sh357,773,737,118.
She also reported that the development budget was reduced by Sh38,000,000, affecting projects funded by the Government of Kenya.
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Macharia warned that the budget cut would delay the implementation of the second phase of the 2021-2025 CBA, which was originally allocated Sh10 billion. This delay could hinder the salary increments for teachers agreed upon in the CBA.
CBA Agreement Details
In August last year, the TSC and union representatives agreed to amend the 2021-2025 CBA to include a salary increment of up to 9.5 percent spread over two years. The budget cuts now threaten the fulfillment of this agreement, risking potential strikes and unrest among educators.
Conclusion
The reduction in the Teachers Service Commission’s budget poses significant challenges to the implementation of the agreed-upon CBA and may lead to industrial actions if not addressed promptly. The government is urged to reconsider the budget cuts to prevent disruptions in the education sector.
Potential Teacher Strikes Loom as MPs Warn of Budget Cuts
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