The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has appealed to Parliament for an additional Ksh12.7 billion to bridge a major funding shortfall affecting teachers’ welfare, including medical insurance, statutory covers and key administrative obligations.
The request was presented before the National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee during deliberations on the 2026/27 national budget estimates, as lawmakers examined gaps in allocations within the education sector.
According to submissions made to the committee, the shortfall has raised concern over the sustainability of essential teacher welfare programmes, particularly those linked to insurance and medical cover obligations.
The commission explained that the funding gap includes Ksh5.3 billion required for Group Life Insurance, Group Personal Accident Insurance and compliance with the Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA).
A further Ksh4.4 billion is needed to settle outstanding obligations under teachers’ medical cover while Ksh2.2 billion is earmarked for acting allowances for administrators serving in expanded leadership roles.
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An additional Ksh800 million is required to cater for administrative and insurance-related adjustments.
Members of the Education Committee raised concern that failure to fully fund these statutory obligations could expose the government to legal and operational risks while undermining the welfare of teachers across the country.
They emphasized that essential benefits such as insurance covers mandated by law should not be left unfunded and urged the National Treasury to prioritize teacher welfare in the final budget framework.
The committee further noted that the issue is urgent, given that thousands of teachers depend on government-supported medical and insurance schemes, which are currently under strain due to funding gaps and rising costs.
The funding shortfall comes amid broader pressure on the education sector, with the TSC previously reporting inadequate allocations for medical insurance following the transition of teachers to the Social Health Authority (SHA) system and other statutory insurance obligations.
TSC maintains that without the additional funding, continuity of key teacher welfare services could be at risk in the upcoming financial year, as Parliament continues with budget deliberations ahead of final approval of the 2026/27 national budget.
By Kithinji Njeru
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