TSC Introduces New Allowances for Teachers in Special Schools
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has introduced new allowances aimed at attracting and retaining teachers in special schools. This initiative addresses the pressing need for qualified staff in these institutions.
On Tuesday, TSC CEO Nancy Macharia informed the National Assembly Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee about a significant shortage of 5,362 teachers in special needs schools across the country.
The scarcity of teachers in these schools has been attributed to the challenging working conditions, which discourage potential candidates from applying.
New Incentives
To combat this issue, Macharia revealed that the commission has introduced several new allowances.
“Special school allowances is also another incentive introduced to teachers with special education skills,” she said.
The Readers Facilitation or Aid allowance is specifically for teachers with disabilities such as blindness, deafness, muteness, or physical impairments.
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Additionally, a Special School Allowance has been established to benefit teachers with expertise in special education.
These new incentives complement existing allowances, including hardship and commuter benefits.
Phased Teacher Deployment
Due to budget limitations, the TSC has implemented a phased approach to deploying teachers to special needs schools.
In May, the commission hired and placed 1,763 teachers, with plans to post an additional 3,600 teachers in September this year, January next year, and June next year.
The TSC has also developed a tailored staffing norm for special needs schools. Macharia explained that class sizes are adjusted based on the type and severity of disabilities among students.
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For instance, classes for mentally handicapped learners are limited to four students, while classes for physically handicapped learners can accommodate up to 15 students.
This approach is intended to ensure that teachers can provide adequate attention to each student.
Committee Feedback
Vice Chairperson Liza Chelule praised the TSC’s efforts to enhance the welfare of teachers in special needs schools. However, she emphasized that more work is needed.
During a committee visit to special needs schools in Coast, Nyanza, Western, and Rift Valley regions, it was observed that both the schools and the working conditions for teachers were in poor shape.
TSC Introduces New Allowances for Teachers in Special Schools
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