Top officials from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), and the Public Service Commission (PSC) appeared before the National Assembly’s Committee on Education to deliberate on the TSC (Amendment) Bill, 2024, a proposed law that could change how teacher appointments and acting roles are handled.
The public hearing, which took place at County Hall in Nairobi, was convened to gather views on the private member’s bill sponsored by Mandera South MP Abdul Haro.
The proposed amendment aims to establish a legal framework to address the longstanding issue of teachers serving in acting capacities without compensation.
Among the officials who appeared were TSC Deputy Director of Legal Services Allan Sitima, George Mutheu, Mollet Sango, KUPPET Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima, KUPPET National Chair Omboko Milemba, and PSC Deputy CEO for Legal Services Jackline Manani.
During the session, it was revealed that over 99,000 teachers are currently holding acting positions in schools—some as deputy principals, heads of departments, or senior teachers—but without receiving allowances commensurate with their responsibilities.
“It is a gross violation of labour rights when a teacher is made to perform additional duties for years without corresponding pay,” said KUPPET Deputy SG Moses Nthurima during the session.
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KUPPET has long advocated for reforms in this area, insisting that the law must explicitly require the TSC to remunerate any teacher performing higher duties, regardless of budgetary or procedural challenges.
TSC, on the other hand, argued that while it acknowledges the gap, current legislation does not compel it to pay acting allowances unless the appointment is confirmed through formal promotion.
Haro’s proposed amendment seeks to address the legal gap by introducing a provision in the TSC Act that requires teachers in acting roles to be compensated after a specified period.
This aligns with broader public service guidelines already in place for civil servants.
The Education Committee will review all submissions and table a report in Parliament in the coming weeks. If passed, the TSC (Amendment) Bill 2024 could trigger significant reforms in teacher management and compensation.
For the 99,000 teachers currently serving without recognition or pay, the bill offers a glimmer of hope and a potential pathway to long-overdue fairness in the education service.
By Joseph Mambili
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