To prevent a potential crisis as schools prepare to reopen for the Third Term next week, the government has released significant funds for schools and teachers. The National Treasury announced the disbursement of Sh30 billion to the Ministry of Education for school capitation and student scholarships and loans.
Specifically, the State Department for Basic Education has been allocated Sh1.623 billion for free primary education and Sh14.145 billion for free day secondary education for the upcoming term. Additionally, Sh6.109 billion has been allocated for Junior Secondary Education, while the State Department for Higher Education and Research received Sh5.197 billion for the Higher Education Loans Board and Sh2.820 billion for the Universities Fund Board.
In parallel, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has provided funds to implement the second phase of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to prevent a planned nationwide teachers’ strike. TSC stated that various unions had been informed of the fund release and would consult internally to consider withdrawing the strike notice.
The CBAs, signed in June 2021 and amended in August 2023, included phased implementations, with the first phase completed by June 30 and the second phase starting on July 1.
The TSC, which met with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET), and Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET), confirmed that the issues raised by the unions had been addressed. Resolutions included a review of the Career Progression Guidelines, timely remittance of third-party deductions, and access to both public and private hospitals under the Teachers Medical Scheme.
In addition to the previously mentioned funds, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) announced that the government has also allocated resources for the retooling of teachers to effectively implement the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).
A statement from the TSC expressed gratitude to the unions for their collaboration to prevent disruptions in schools for the upcoming Third Term. The Commission also extended thanks to the government for providing sufficient resources for the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and other teacher programs despite the challenging economic conditions.
The TSC assured teachers of its commitment to creating a supportive working environment and urged them to report to schools on Monday for the start of the Third Term, now that the government has released funds for the second phase of the 2021-2025 CBA. The Commission highlighted that it has promoted 51,232 teachers through competitive promotions and plans to promote an additional 20,000 annually in common cadre.
This action follows Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba’s confirmation that the Ministry had received a strike notice from teachers, just a day after Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua held an urgent meeting with a segment of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) to prevent the impending strike.
“We received a strike notice and of course, there is a procedure; the notice goes to TSC which has to handle that aspect then we step in.
“The KNUT leadership is meeting with TSC leadership to discuss the issue of the strike,” Ogamba stated. The teacher unions had issued a strike notice and directed teachers to stay away from classrooms from Monday, August 16 until their demands are met.
KNUT Secretary Collins Oyuu threatened that the teachers would go on strike due to the failure of the government to honour the second phase of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) of 2021-2025.
Said Oyuu: “We raised the issue with the Budget and Appropriation Committee under the chairmanship of Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and his Education counterpart Julius Melly (Tinderet MP) to ensure the allocations for the teachers are not tampered with, as that would be inviting chaos to the education sector. But it appears they did not listen.”
Among their demands include the full implementation of the 2021–25 CBA, the promotion of 130,000 stagnated teachers, the allocation of Sh15 billion for teachers’ medical cover, and the release of teachers’ emoluments for July.
