TSC laxity reason for Bill giving acting teachers allowances – MPs

MPs have turned the heat on the Teachers Service Commission, accusing it of laxity in substantively filling management vacancies in schools.

Teachers have been acting in the positions for months without payment for extra work.

It is estimated 99,000 teachers are holding positions in acting capacity across the country, with no allowance for the additional tasks.

This is despite resources being availed in the budget.

The inordinate delays have prompted Mandera South MP Abdul Haro to sponsor the Teachers Service Commission (Amendment bill), 2024, to among others, confer special allowances to teachers acting in various positions.

However, the National Assembly’s Education Committee, led by chairman Julius Melly, said the Bill would not have been necessary had the teachers’ employer done its work effectively and within time.

“This Bill is a desperate measure where TSC officers have failed to substantively fill positions which are vacant,” he said.

“How can 99,000 teachers be acting and not be paid and the money is availed in the budget? Please give us the details of the exact numbers and tell us what exactly is going on,” Melly said.

He spoke during a session with members of TSC, Kuppet, the Public Service Commission, Salaries and Remuneration Commission, the State Law Office, Auditor General and Kenya Law Reform Commission.

Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera demanded full details of the teachers on acting capacity and how much they are owed in allowances for the additional tasks.

“Please share with us the details of the number of people in acting capacity, how much they have been paid and how much they have not been paid and give details as to why they have not been paid,” he said.

Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba, who was appearing as Kuppet chairman and his deputy secretary general Moses Nthurima faulted TSC for misusing teachers.

“Thousands of teachers are out there acting and are not being paid allowances. Since then, the teachers are now in thousands more than before,” he said.

“TSC is wasting and misusing teachers’ labour as it is not paying them and we are supporting this Bill to elevate them.”

In their response, TSC, KLRC, Attorney General and PSC opposed the proposed law, arguing it could also be achieved through regulations.

“It is thus that the commission’s considered position is that all the legislative amendments proposed by the honourable member should await and expect law reforms in the education and teaching sector,” TSC senior deputy director of legal services Allan Sitima submitted.