Special Needs Teachers Protest Delayed Allowance Payments.
During the second term of 2024, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) undertook an ambitious initiative to assign 6000 educators to special schools and units across the country.
This recruitment effort stemmed from an agreement between the Commission and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Teachers (KUSNET), driven by the urgent need to address the shortage of teachers in special schools spanning all 47 counties.
Despite the large-scale deployment, several affected teachers revealed to Education News that they had not received their special allowances since being posted in the previous academic year’s second term.
They highlighted that their responsibilities extend beyond the classroom, encompassing medical facilities and home visits for learners, further justifying the need for the allowance.
Frustrated by the lack of payment, teachers expressed discontent with their employer over the delay in receiving the special salary allowance.
Special school educators are typically entitled to an additional KSh10,000 above their standard salary as an incentive for handling a highly specialized field of education. However, with the continued delay, concerns have escalated.
In response to their plight, the teachers urged KUSNET leadership to take immediate action to ensure the agreement reached with TSC was upheld. Some even warned that failure to resolve the issue promptly would leave them with no choice but to request transfers back to regular schools.
Following the signing of the Career Progression Guidelines in 2017, many special school educators felt overlooked for promotions.
As a result, they sought transfers to mainstream schools, leading to significant staffing gaps in special education. This prompted KUSNET to intervene, advocating for improved deployment policies to retain teachers in the sector.
Phased Deployment Plan
Under the new deployment arrangement, TSC planned to recruit 1750 teachers in an initial phase, followed by 1200 teachers in January 2025, with the final batch of 1200 joining by June 2025. This structured approach aimed to ensure a steady integration of personnel into special education.
As the Ministry of Education intensifies efforts to implement Competency-Based Education (CBE), addressing issues that hinder the effective delivery of special needs education remains crucial. The resolution of these concerns is essential for the successful realization of the curriculum objectives.
Special Needs Teachers Protest Delayed Allowance Payments
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