TSC to pay special duty allowances to teachers serving in acting administrative roles

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will start paying special duty allowances, commonly referred to as acting allowances, to teachers currently serving in administrative positions in an acting capacity.

A total of 99,000 teachers, including over 3,300 school heads and deputy heads who have been serving without adequate compensation, are set to benefit from the new payments.

The move follows Parliament’s approval of the Teachers Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which grants acting allowances to teachers serving in administrative roles while capping the acting period at a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of six months.

The bill stipulates that a teacher can only act in a position for which they are eligible and may only act in one position at a time. Teachers appointed in an acting capacity are entitled to a special duty allowance, particularly when performing administrative duties not commensurate with their teaching grades or stationed in arid and semi-arid lands.

The allowances aim to address prolonged periods of acting appointments without remuneration, which had previously eroded motivation and weakened succession planning in school leadership.

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Sponsored by Mandera South MP Abdul Haro, the bill mandates that teachers appointed to acting positions including principals, deputy headteachers, and heads of departments receive all allowances attached to those roles. After six months, the positions must be substantively filled, enabling acting teachers to qualify for confirmation.

The legislation also formalizes various allowances, including house, commuter, hardship, special duty, responsibility, and transfer allowances, with TSC required to consult the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) on remuneration structures. The exact amounts to be paid will be determined jointly by TSC and SRC.

Section 11 of the Teachers Service Commission Act, 2012 (No. 20) provides that:

“The Commission, in consultation with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, shall facilitate payment of allowances to teachers in the manner set out in the Fourth Schedule.”

This payment of the special duty allowance is expected to boost morale among teachers in acting administrative positions and put pressure on the Commission to confirm qualified teachers whenever promotions are advertised.

By Obegi Malack