TSC’s Hiring of 46,000 JSS Intern Teachers in Doubt Amid Ksh.5 Billion Budget Shortfall
The Teacher Service Commission (TSC) faces a significant challenge in hiring 46,000 junior secondary school (JSS) teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
This follows the National Treasury’s allocation of only 13.4 billion Shillings for the process, falling short by 5 billion Shillings of the 18.7 billion Shillings appropriated by the National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee.
The TSC had initially informed Parliament that 30 billion Shillings was needed for this task.
The budget shortfall arises at a time when JSS teachers are expected to see a salary increase from the current 20,000 Shillings monthly stipend to over 50,000 Shillings.
Despite this, the education sector received a significant portion of the financial year’s budget, with an allocation of 656.6 billion Shillings.
Out of this, 38.2 billion Shillings was earmarked for the TSC, primarily for hiring JSS teachers.
Financial Breakdown
| Item | Proposed Allocation (Billion Shillings) |
|---|---|
| Total Education Sector Allocation | 656.6 |
| TSC Allocation | 38.2 |
| Conversion of 46,000 JSS Interns | 13.4 |
| Additional Proposal by Budget Committee | 8.3 |
| Total Needed by TSC | 30 |
Supplementary Budget Request
There is a strong call for a supplementary budget to address the deficit and accommodate all 46,000 intern teachers.
It was emphasized that the court ruling deemed the employment of all interns legal, reinforcing the need for the permanent and pensionable hiring of the entire cohort.
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In addition to budget concerns, TSC is under pressure to reinstate 742 JSS intern teachers whose contracts were terminated due to professional misconduct.
The education sector stakeholders are keen to resolve these issues promptly to ensure smooth operation and better compensation for teachers.
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