Treasury agrees to give TSC Sh2 billion for teacher recruitment

By Sam Otieno

The Government has succumbed to pressure from the giant teachers’ union and agreed Sh2 billion be channelled to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to recruit teachers.

However, new teachers will be recruited as per a contract drawn up by TSC and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut).

There is a shortage of 66,000 teachers countrywide.

The deal will bring to an end the longstanding dispute over teacher recruitment. Knut and rival union, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), filed separate cases in court.

Yesterday, Knut and the Government also agreed that teachers hired on contract will get priority should the TSC start recruiting on permanent and pensionable terms.

Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and his Education counterpart Sam Ongeri signed the deal on behalf of Government while Knut Secretary General Lawrence Majali, Chairman George Wesonga and Treasurer Fred Ontere signed on behalf of teachers.

"Our objective is to hire teachers on permanent and pensionable terms and this is an interim situation to allow the economy to improve," he said.

Union officials Wilson Sossion, Xavier Nyamu, Okuta Osiany and Kaguma witnessed the ceremony.

Uhuru also announced that P1 A level teachers will be given their pending dues this month.

Ongeri instructed the TSC to work out the implementation modalities as soon as possible.