Kenya’s Education Ministry moans Sh50 billion hole in budget as teachers gear for pay talks

NAIROBI: Teachers will not be promoted or have their salaries reviewed this financial year due to a Sh10.9 billion deficit at the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), it has emerged.

And this is just one of the programmes that could be halted as the Ministry of Education copes with a Sh50 billion deficit.

The digitisation of more than 700,000 teachers’ files and creation of linkages with the counties and sub-county offices, which requires Sh1.3 billion, might also be postponed.

TSC also requires some Sh91 million to roll out the Teachers Professional Development Modules. Only Sh181 billion was allocated towards teachers’ salaries this financial year, Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said. TSC requires about Sh198 billion in the next financial year but it can only receive a maximum of Sh187 billion.

Under its medium-term priorities for the next financial year, the teachers’ employer lists improvement of staffing levels through additional recruitment, institutionalisation of teaching standards at county, sub-county and school levels, and career growth and development of teachers through promotions and dissemination of new schemes of service. The details were tabled last week during public hearings for the national budget for the 2016/17 financial year and the medium-term.

The three-day exercise at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development was to provide members of the public with an opportunity to validate and provide feedback on the budget proposals.

In his presentation, Mr Kipsang (pictured) tabled a document indicating the education sector resource allocation for 2015/2016 as Sh299 billion. The ministry has requested for Sh346 billion in the next financial year but its ceiling has been set at Sh315 billion.

Industrial action

The PS produced a long list of projects experiencing serious financial gaps, including infrastructure development, provision of sanitary towels, higher education financing and free education.

He also said funds for recruitment and promotion of teachers, automation of records and possible salary increases should be made available.

Another requirement is money for legal fees arising from industrial action by teachers should be provided.

On an item by item basis, Kipsang said the ministry has a Sh1.8 billion deficit for free day secondary schools.

Another Sh2 billion is required for examinations and certification. This means production of certificates for various national examinations could be crippled if the gap is not sealed.

The biggest deficit is however recorded under equipping of already constructed technical training institutions and the construction of new ones. The Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) may also not allocate money to new applicants as it is operating under a deficit of Sh3.4 billion.

Kipsang said bridging the deficit is key to enhance student loans, bursaries and scholarship at all levels.

The ministry also requires another Sh1.6 billion to finance curriculum reforms, which have kicked off in earnest.

Details from the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) show that only Sh200 million has been allocated towards the curriculum review.

Expansion of model county and extra county schools, Konza City model secondary schools and improvement of the existing infrastructure also requires some Sh1.1 billion for completion. Kipsang said infrastructure improvement for new diploma colleges and existing colleges also has a deficit of Sh1 billion.

“Address the insufficient infrastructure at basic education, TIVET and university levels to ensure increased access to education and training,” said the PS.

Funding of new public universities and colleges shall also be frustrated, as the ministry has cited a gap of Sh1.4 billion. Universities were allocated Sh 49.8 billion this financial year.

In his presentation, under emerging issues, Kipsang pointed out the increased litigation and a high wage bill arising from salary adjustments and other terms of employment by institutions whose status have changed following the promulgation of constitution in 2010.

He also said continued acquisition and conversion of teacher training volleges to universities has led to increased demand for money to establish new TTCs. Kipsang also cited uncoordinated establishment of secondary schools through the Constituency Development Fund as increasing demand for teachers, support staff, infrastructure and learning materials.