Teachers in public schools are set to receive their July and August salary increments by the end of this week after the government disbursed Ksh 13.5 billion as part of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
In an effort to resolve the ongoing strike by some teachers, the Ministry of Education pledged to address all pending administrative issues through the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The Ministry also assured parents of the safety of students who have been returning to school for the third term, despite the confusion caused by the strike called by the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET).
While the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) called off its national strike on Sunday following discussions with the government, KUPPET urged its members to continue staying away from schools until issues related to pending salaries and promotions were resolved.
Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Migos Ogamba stated that the government was working diligently to ensure that all pending payments to teachers were made.
He emphasized that the government was actively engaging with KUPPET to resolve the stalemate and ensure that learning could resume smoothly across the country.
“As part of implementing the 2021-2025 CBA, the National Treasury has released Ksh 13.5 billion to ensure public school teachers receive their July and August salary arrears by Friday,” Ogamba said.
Despite the ongoing strike, Ogamba noted that students were continuing to return to school, encouraged by KNUT’s decision to end their strike.
Ogamba made these remarks while addressing the press at Lake Naivasha Resort during the opening of the 54th International Conference of the Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa (ATUPA).
He further mentioned that the government plans to fully employ the 20,000 intern teachers currently working in Junior Secondary Schools by the end of this year.
“We are also seeking funds to employ an additional 46,000 intern teachers, as the government is committed to addressing the teacher shortage in the country,” Ogamba added.
During the event, the CS issued appointment letters to 2,000 trainers who will be posted to 242 TVET institutions across the country.
“Currently, there are over 7,000 TVET trainers in the country, and the new batch will help alleviate the acute shortage, with the country requiring over 15,000 teachers,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Principal Secretary for TVET, Esther Muoria, announced the commencement of the Recognition of Prior Learning program, which aims to assess and certify technically skilled Jua Kali personnel with matching certifications.
She stated that over 700 graduates have already received formal certification after their technical knowledge and skills were assessed in their respective fields.
The PS encouraged Kenyans who have acquired skills informally to come forward for certification, enabling them to access job opportunities.
“We call upon Kenyans who have acquired skills informally to come forward and be certified against the government assessment framework or through our national technical institutions,” said Muoria.
