TSC requires Sh10billion to finance critical programmes
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) now requires at least Sh10 billion to finance critical programmes, which include recruitment and promotions of teachers.
During a presentation to National Assembly committee on Education, TSC Secretary Nancy Macharia said the commission requires some Sh5.3 billion to recruit 8,000 teachers for the 100 per cent transition
Macharia highlighted the levies are part of the critical areas, which were not funded in the last budget.
“The commission would appreciate any facilitation for these areas to receive some allocation,” she said.
TSC boss further stated the commission will require Sh1.2 billion to recruit 6,000 interns and another Sh2 billion for promotion of teachers on competitive selection.
For implementation of Teachers Performance Appraisal and Development and performance contract, the TSC boss noted the agency is seeking Sh10 million.
“Teacher mentorship and coaching programme requires an estimated Sh50 million while the roll out of a national Biometric Enrolment and Validation of tutors will be done at a cost of Sh342.4 million,” she said.
The Commission wants the facilitation of Sh600 million for gratuity to 3,358 contract teachers in the Northern frontier and construction of additional county office accommodation estimated at a cost of Sh183.6 million.
On development expenditure, the allocation was 656.4 million against a projected requirement of Sh1.14 billion.
The commission also said priorities identified in the 2022/23 budget and the medium term were informed by the 2019- 2023 strategic plan and the medium-term plan III of Vision 2030.
Public universities will receive Sh8.5 billion more to cater to their tuition expenses and for research. Major beneficiaries are Kenyatta University, the University of Nairobi, and Moi University.
The school feeding programme in the early education sector receives a boost of Sh3 billion while secondary schools and the TSC receive Sh392 million and Sh6.9 billion respectively.
The TSC allocation should go toward hiring more teachers.
Kenya Power received Sh3.3 billion to boost its restructuring programme.
This has seen a 3.3 per cent jump of the national budget from the original plan presented in April last year, widening the budget deficit further.
“The overall change in the national government ministerial budget, excluding the consolidated fund services and county allocations, from the original approved budget is an increase of Sh126.3 billion,” said Yatani.
He noted the increase to expenses linked to the elections, Covid-19 expenditures, including Sh1.3 billion for building a vaccines plant, and the bailouts.
This increased the budget deficit from the original projection of 7.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to 8.1 per cent, signalling additional borrowing to plug the financing hole.
