The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced the introduction of allowances for teachers in special schools to attract and retain them in these institutions. On Tuesday, TSC CEO Nancy Macharia informed the National Assembly Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee that special needs schools in the country are currently experiencing a shortage of 5,362 teachers.
Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana noted that the challenges faced by teachers in special needs schools discourage their colleagues from seeking positions in these institutions, contributing to the shortage.
Macharia explained to the Adan Haji-led committee that a Readers Facilitation or Aid allowance has been introduced for teachers who are blind, deaf, mute, or have physical disabilities.
“Special school allowances is also another incentive introduced to teachers with special education skills,” she said.
Macharia noted that the incentives are in addition to standard enticements such as hardship and commuter allowances.
“Due to budget constraints, the commission has developed a phased deployment of teachers to special needs schools to address the shortage,” she noted.
Committee vice chairperson Liza Chelule commended the teacher employer for its efforts to improve the welfare of teachers in special needs schools.
She, however, said there was still more needed to be done.
“The committee visited special needs schools in parts of Coast, Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley and established that the schools and teachers operated in deplorable conditions,” she said.
Regarding the teacher shortage, Macharia stated that the TSC hired and deployed 1,763 teachers to schools in May. She added that another 3,600 teachers will be posted to schools in September this year, as well as in January and June of the following year.
The TSC CEO also mentioned that the commission has developed and implemented a unique staffing norm for special needs education schools. She explained that the class size for each teacher is determined by the type and severity of the disabilities of the learners.
