Ruto Reveals Conversion Plan for JSS Teachers to Permanent Terms
President William Ruto has confirmed that the planned conversion of Junior Secondary School teachers to permanent terms is still proceeding as scheduled.
Despite the setback with the Finance Bill of 2024, the government remains committed to securing the necessary funds to hire these teachers.
The government had initially planned to employ 46,000 teachers currently working as interns, with a budget of Sh18.3 billion.
The Finance Bill’s rejection created a budget shortfall of Sh346 billion. However, Ruto stated that the government would not borrow the entire amount but instead seek Sh169 billion through borrowing.
In a national address from State House, Ruto outlined the government’s strategy to rationalize its budget to fulfill its promise of hiring teachers.
Following the rejection of the Finance Bill, extensive consultations were held to find a balance between borrowing and implementing austerity measures.
Proposed Budget Adjustments
To address the shortfall, the government will propose:
- Budget cuts amounting to Sh177 billion
- Borrowing the remaining amount to cover the deficit
The borrowing will increase the budget deficit from 3.3% to 4.6% of GDP, still lower than the previous year.
The funds raised through these measures will support essential government programs.
Budget Cuts and Borrowing
Ruto emphasized that these funds will protect vital services requested by the Kenyan people, including the hiring of Junior Secondary School teachers and medical interns.
The anticipated budget cuts are a result of the Finance Bill 2024 being withdrawn following public outcry and protests.
This bill was intended to address the budget shortfall for the 2024/2025 financial year. In response, it was proposed to reduce the budget by Sh177 billion and borrow the difference. This borrowing would increase the budget deficit from 3.3% to 4.6% of GDP, which is still lower than the previous year.
Parliamentary Group Meeting
In a statement following a Parliamentary Group Meeting by the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition on June 18, National Assembly Finance Committee Chair Kimani Kuria reported that adequate funds have been allocated for confirming the employment of 46,000 interns.
The PG was informed that KSh18 billion has been set aside for hiring all 46,000 Junior Secondary teachers who are currently on internship.
Teachers Service Commission Hiring
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) plans to hire 20,000 interns starting next month to address the teacher shortage in Junior School, as the pioneer class progresses to Grade 9 in January 2025.
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The policy is to transition teachers from internship to permanent and pensionable terms. However, the Sh18 billion allocated may not be sufficient, as TSC estimates Sh30 billion is needed to hire all 46,000 interns permanently by July 1, 2024. Consequently, TSC may need to employ a portion of the intern teachers first while others wait for additional funding.
The internship program began in 2019, with secondary school interns receiving Sh20,000 and primary school interns receiving Sh15,000. However, the JSS interns have protested that these amounts are insufficient to sustain their livelihoods.
Ruto Reveals Conversion Plan for JSS Teachers to Permanent Terms
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