TSC signs new CBA with teachers’ unions, reviews salaries and allowances
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has signed an addendum agreement to the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) with the teacher’s unions, which will see an increase in the salaries and allowances for teachers in Kenya.
The agreement was signed on August 28, 2023, between the TSC and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), and Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET).
According to the agreement, the remuneration payable to teachers will be implemented in two phases with effect from July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2024. The new salary scales for teachers are based on their job groups and T-scales, which range from T-scale 5 to T-scale 15.
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For example, a chief principal with a T-scale of 15 will earn a basic salary of Ksh. 152,937 in the first phase and Ksh. 157,656 in the second phase. A secondary teacher with a T-scale of 9 will earn a basic salary of Ksh. 43,154 in the first phase and Ksh. 44,750 in the second phase.
The house allowance rates for teachers are categorized into four clusters, namely: Cluster 1: Nairobi City; Cluster 2: Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru Cities, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi, and Kitale; Cluster 3: Other former; Cluster 4: All other. The house allowance rates for Clusters 1, 2, and 3 have been retained, while Cluster 4 rates have been reviewed to be implemented in two phases.
For example, a teacher in Cluster 4 will receive a house allowance of Ksh. 6,750 in the first phase and Ksh. 8,000 in the second phase. All other allowances such as commuter allowance, hardship allowance, special school allowance, and leave allowance shall continue to be paid where applicable.
The TSC said that the agreement was a result of constructive dialogue and consultation with the teacher’s unions. The TSC also thanked the government for allocating adequate funds to cater for the teachers’ welfare.
The teacher’s unions welcomed the agreement and expressed their gratitude to the TSC for honoring their demands. They also urged their members to continue delivering quality education to the learners.
The new CBA is expected to boost the morale and motivation of teachers in Kenya, who have been facing various challenges such as inadequate staffing, heavy workload, insecurity, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The new CBA is also expected to improve the retention and attraction of qualified teachers in the profession.
