Senator Vows to Address Unexplained Teacher Salary Deductions by TSC in Senate

Senator Vows to Address Unexplained Teacher Salary Deductions by TSC in Senate.

Taita Taveta Senator, Jones Mwaruma, voiced his concerns at the Annual General Meeting, supporting calls for fair treatment of teachers and addressing specific grievances affecting them.

He expressed shock over the Kenya Women Teachers Association’s (KEWOTA) resumption of deductions from teachers’ salaries, which continued despite a previous directive to stop the practice.

He pledged to take the matter to the Senate, seeking clarity from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Secretary, Nancy Macharia, on why these deductions were still occurring.

Mwaruma indicated that while the initial directive to halt the deductions was followed, the ongoing issue of refunding teachers was unresolved, and deductions had restarted even before refunds could be issued.

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“When I get back to Senate on Tuesday, I will write a statement again so that the TSC secretary Nancy Macharia can explain why after KEWOTA) was stopped from deducting money from teachers, it is still there. The first step of stopping it was done and now we were working on the second step which is refunding. before they refund, they have already started deducting teachers their money again,” He explained.

Hardship Allowances in Remote Areas

Senator Mwaruma also highlighted the ongoing plight of teachers working in hard-to-reach areas, including Taveta, Rong’e, and Wundanyi, where hardship allowances have not been implemented.

This issue persisted despite a 2018 task force report recommending allowances to compensate for the challenges faced in these regions. He pointed out that teachers in these areas struggle with inadequate infrastructure and support, which contribute to their overall hardship.

Promoting Continuous Professional Development for Teachers

In addition to addressing immediate grievances, Mwaruma advocated for the continuous professional development of teachers, particularly in the context of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which presents new challenges and demands for educators.

He underscored the need for teachers to access bursaries to further their education, pointing to the efforts of the Jones Mwaruma Foundation in supporting this goal. The foundation currently sponsors over 100 teachers pursuing diplomas and degrees in teaching.

ALSO READ: TSC Reports Critical Shortage of Science Teachers in Kenya.

Mwaruma highlighted that there were over 50 teachers from Vihiga enrolled in diploma programs and 62 teachers from Taita Taveta University pursuing degrees in education, with plans to have all 62 degree candidates graduate by 2028 under the foundation’s support.

He emphasized that investing in the education of teachers is crucial to addressing the shortage of qualified educators and improving the quality of instruction, especially as the CBC continues to be implemented.

Senator Vows to Address Unexplained Teacher Salary Deductions by TSC in Senate.

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