Retirement age for teachers and Lecturers in Kenya
What is the retirement age for Kenyan teachers? A basic question, but one that many teachers approaching retirement age think about.
Given that life expectancy has drastically decreased and early retirement for teachers has become the norm, this is a question that keeps them awake at night whenever they consider the balance of their pension plans.
After years of focusing on their careers, most teachers look forward to the day when they can retire and have time to pursue all of the things they never had time for.
In order to subsist financially, teachers typically retire when they reach the age at which they are eligible for pension benefits. However, people may choose to retire early for a variety of reasons.
The retirement age for teachers in Kenya
What age do most Kenyan teachers retire? Legislation through a parliamentary act sets the retirement ages for teachers, not their employers.
In 2009, the Kenyan government increased the retirement age for employees from 55 to 60 years in order to keep competent workers in the workforce for longer periods of time.
This also applies to teachers. Their retirement age was 55 years prior to the modifications. Currently, the retirement age for teachers is 60 years, and 65 years for those with disabilities.
This was an excellent decision since it permits teachers who have been in practice for many years to continue training newly hired teachers.
Early retirement for teachers in Kenya.
A teacher may opt to retire early for a variety of reasons. Such a teacher must submit a written application through the institution’s head and provide three months’ notice of the anticipated retirement date. After receiving the application, the commission issues a retirement notification.
It then handles the retirement claim after receiving the necessary documentation. The Director of Pensions at Treasury receives this claim and makes the necessary payments.
The teacher’s service commission in Kenya can allow a teacher to retire at the age of 50 after completing 10 years of continuous service on permanent and pensionable conditions.
The retirement age for lecturers in Kenya
The particular retirement age for lecturers has long been a problem, prompting lecturers through the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) to take the matter to court, accusing their employers of doublespeak on the subject.
According to documents UASU filed in court, professors and universities reached a compromise on the planned increased retirement age.
UASU had previously recommended raising the retirement age to between 65 and 75 years, but the labour court denied it, citing that raising the retirement age to 75 was contrary to public policy, which requires public personnel to retire at the age of 60.
The court argued that the request to change the retirement age stemmed from the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The court declined to raise the exit age. This verdict dealt a significant blow to old dons. The lecturers were unhappy with the verdict, claiming that it was a severe blow to institutions and would have an impact on educational quality.
The departure of veteran academics, who are well-versed in their domains of service, may undermine universities’ legitimacy.
Pensions for retiring TSC teachers
So, how much pension do teachers in Kenya receive? Teachers used to receive their benefits directly from taxes, without making any contributions to their pensions.
Traditional pensions were calculated using the teacher’s years of experience and a measure of the final average wage, which is typically the average of the teacher’s salary in the three to five years preceding retirement.
There was no set amount of pension for retiring teachers. Typically, the amount of a teacher’s pension is determined by the number of years of employment.
The pension was then determined by multiplying the teacher’s years of service by the average wage. The result was divided by 80, yielding a lump sum equivalent to three times the pension.
In a stunning turn of events, teachers’ take-home pay will be reduced by 7.5% as they begin contributing to their pension savings plan.
They will have a percentage of their wages deducted for subsequent remittance to the soon-to-be established Public Service Superannuation Scheme (PSSS).
The move aims to reduce the exchequer’s present pension burden.
In compliance with the Pensions Act, teachers also receive additional benefits upon retirement. The benefits are normally free of charge, and they are not required to contribute a portion of their wages to obtain these rights.
Teachers earn one or more of the following rewards when they leave the service:
- Service pension plus commuted pension.
- Marriage gratuity
- Injury gratuity.
- Death gratuity
- Dependants’ pension
- Compassionate Gratuity
- Annual allowance.
There you have it. A thorough guide on the retirement age for Kenyan teachers. As a teacher, it’s crucial to understand your retirement age and the benefits you qualify for. This will notify you of how much you will earn as a pension, allowing you to plan ahead successfully.
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Retirement age for teachers and Lecturers in Kenya
