By Augustine Oduor
A cloud of discontent is hanging over the education sector as teachers accuse the Government of dishonesty even as it allocated Sh233 billion to the ministry.
They say the money to the sector may seem big, but claimed there is nothing to show for the teachers who will be tasked to enhance learning.
The teachers said the Government’s commitment to education is no longer trusted and termed the budgetary allocations as “mere proposal” of monies that may not be made available.
At the centre of the displeasure is the failure by the Treasury to send Sh7 billion free education cash to schools after Githae and his Education counterpart Mutula Kilonzo announced the release about two weeks ago. Sh1.85 billion was to go primary schools and another Sh5.15 billion for free day secondary education.
“If the Government cannot send this money to schools for children to continue learning, how are we supposed to believe them when they announce such big allocations?” asked Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Okuta Osiany.
Minister’s allocations
He said some of the public schools have already sent learners back home citing lack of learning materials due to lack of funds.
In his Budget statement, Githae announced that Sh8.3 billion has been set aside for free primary education and another Sh19.7 billion for free day secondary education.
He also allocated Sh3.4 billion for hiring of 10,000 of the 40,000 teachers requested by Teachers Service Commission and the ministry of Education.
Githae allocated Sh8.1 billion towards development of infrastructure and facilities in public universities and another Sh480 million for buying computers for schools.
Also allocated is Sh1.6 billion for support to Early Childhood Development, including employment of pre-primary teachers.
Education PS George Godia had asked the Treasury to allocate Sh6.9 billion to hire 25,000 ECD teachers in the financial year.
Githae also allocated Sh1.9 billion towards building classrooms and improving physical facilities in both primary and secondary schools.
In his statement, the Finance minister announced that some Sh300 million will go to provision of sanitary towels for needy girls from poor families in primary schools.
Pending allowances
But as progressive as this may be, what has annoyed the teachers most is the failure by Finance minister to include cash to cater for their salary review proposals and pending allowances.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers and Knut have now threatened to engage the Government in a nationwide strike to demand the release of more cash.
In their demands, Knut and Kuppet demanded a salary increment of about 300 per cent and 100 per cent, respectively, effected starting next month.
Kuppet national chairman Omboko Milemba said union National Governing Council is set to meet on Friday to announce the next course of action.
“We wanted funds for harmonised commuter and house allowances but this was ignored. Let teachers be prepared for a massive showdown with the Government any time soon,” he said.
And in a terse statement to the Government, Osiany said all the allowances negotiated and agreed by the Government must be fully factored in the Budget.
“We are going to have a meeting and we shall communicate in the language the Government understands best (strikes),” he said.
Osiany said teachers demanded Sh348 billion to cater for their salary review proposals and pending allowances.
“These allowances have been pending for the last 15 years and we now demand full payment in the next financial year,” he said.
He said the union is demanding the completion of full implementation of teachers’ allowances as indicated in Legal Notice No. 534.
Under these demands, secondary and primary heads will be awarded half of their basic salary as responsibility allowances.
Deputy head teachers would have an additional 40 per cent of their basic salary as responsibility allowances. Senior teachers and heads of department would be awarded 30 per cent of their basic salaries.
Hardship areas
Teachers who work in cities — Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa — would also receive 70 per cent of their basic as hardship allowances.
“We want cities declared hardship areas because working there is not easy. Teachers must then be paid as such,” said Sossion.
This means that the Government is required to remit Sh194 billion in addition to the current Sh64 billion for the projected salary reviews.
In total, if the demand is implemented, the Government will release Sh102 billion in addition to the current Sh52 billion for teachers’ allowances alone.
The two unions said they had asked the Treasury to remit the cash to TSC immediately.
