Teachers Service Commission’s secret proposal for teachers pay deal

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) secretary general Mudzo Nzili (left) flanked by national chairman Wilson Sossion and members of the union addressing a press conference in Nairobi

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) wants to inject Sh50 billion annually into its wage bill to cater for a 50 to 60 per cent basic salary increase for the 288,000 teaching workforce, according to proposals seen by The Standard.

In addition, the teachers’ employer also suggests allowances, including Sh18 billion annually for leave and Sh10 billion for house allowance.

The total proposed package given as a counter-offer as a result of Kenya National Union of Teachers’ (Knut) demand for increases adds up to Sh118 billion.

TSC’s proposed counter-offer, detailed in confidential documents obtained by The Standard yesterday, is however far below the pay raise of between 200 and 300 per cent demanded by the unions.

The commission, however, did not table the counter-offer yesterday during the talks with Knut and Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education (Kuppet) officials.

Instead, the Government pushed the meeting to next Tuesday due to a disagreement between the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and TSC on the proposed deal.

SRC officials are reportedly opposed to the deal, citing a ballooning public wage bill, according to the commission’s documents.

The salaries agency asked the teachers’ employer to “obtain confirmations from the National Treasury on availability of funds to meet the proposed reviews”.

The Sarah Serem-led team also advised TSC that the “proposed allowances be held in abeyance until the completion of the study on allowances payable to public officers”.

SRC was responding to letters by TSC on the counter-offer that was to be presented to the unions during a crucial meeting yesterday.

The proposed TSC offer indicates that the State had planned to offer teachers a salary increase of between 50 and 60 per cent.

Knut and Kuppet demanded a basic pay hike of between 200 and 300 per cent.

But the proposal by the Government means that it may require Sh52.2 billion annually to increase the pay of the teaching workforce.

HOUSE ALLOWANCES

House allowances for teachers in Nairobi would cost the State Sh649 million. This would benefit 7,122 teachers in the city who fall between job groups G and R.

Teachers in other areas other than Nairobi would require Sh10 billion for house allowances alone, according to the document.

In addition, the document dubbed ‘Summary of Total Additional Requirements’ says the Government would require Sh18 billion to pay teachers’ leave allowance.

TSC explains that the cycle of implementation of these proposals would commence in July next year if SRC is in agreement.

Officials of the two unions who attended the meeting revealed that the Government did not table any proposal.

TSC Secretary Gabriel Lengoiboni also said the State had not prepared any offer.

“There is no offer yet. We are still holding talks with the teachers to ascertain what the State can afford.

COUNTER-OFFER

“It is not possible to give any counter-offer because we must come to certain agreements that are affordable, sustainable and within certain parameters,” he explained.

Lengoiboni said the unions and the Government were still holding talks and noted that the next meeting had been scheduled for next Tuesday.

“The offer we make will have to take into consideration economic growth, inflation trends, general increase in the cost of living, sustainability and the prevailing labour market trends,” he said.

Union officials yesterday emerged from the meeting and said it had gone on well.

“We are satisfied that we are making progress based on the two meetings we have had so far,” said Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion.

Misori said the Government did not table any counter-offer.

“They instead pleaded with us to allow them more time to consult. So we have the next meeting on October 7,” the Kuppet Secretary General added.

Documents from SRC, however, reveal its detailed correspondence with TSC and constitutes its considered proposal, but it may still be changed depending on discussions the commission will have with Treasury as recommended by the salaries team.

On basic pay increment, the Government proposes to raise the salary of the lowest paid teacher in job group G by Sh10,000. There are 101,123 teachers under this category.

If proposals are implemented, the highest paid teachers in job group R would have a salary increment of Sh54,545. This would benefit 72 teachers.

Salaries of teachers in job group H would rise by Sh11,207. Those in job group J would take home a salary hike of Sh13,811.

Teachers in job group K would get a pay raise of Sh17,371. Those in job group N would get a Sh26,023 rise. Job group P would get Sh38,764 while those in Q would take home Sh44,874.

These figures cumulatively translate to Sh52.2 billion annually on salary increment alone on the lowest scale, if implemented. This, however, rises to Sh106.4 billion annually on the higher scale.

On house allowances, the least paid teacher would take home Sh2,500 as the highest paid teacher gets Sh20,000. The lowest paid teachers currently take home Sh5,000 in house allowances, while the highest paid get Sh40,000.

These figures also mean that cumulatively, the Government would require Sh649.7 million to effect the proposals. The payment on house allowances has been projected to be based on 50 per cent of teachers’ basic pay.

IMPLEMENTATION

However, teachers outside Nairobi will get an increase ranging from Sh1,500 to Sh7,500 for the least and highest paid staff, respectively.

The Government, cumulatively, would require Sh10.8 billion to implement the proposals.

The document also reveals the planned increment of teachers’ leave allowance. If implemented, the suggestions indicate the lowest paid teachers would take home Sh4,400 in leave allowances.

Teachers in job group R, who are the highest paid, would take home some Sh11,000 towards the allowance. Knut had requested leave allowance equivalent to a month’s salary.

The document, however, reveals that the Government does not have a proposal for township allowance as had been requested by the unions.

The State also does not have any proposal on child education allowance. Unions had requested 10 per cent of their basic salaries towards this allowance.