Public school teachers across the country are set to receive their July and August salary increments by Friday, August 30, 2024, as announced by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba.
In a statement made on Tuesday, CS Ogamba stated that these payments will align with the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) after the National Treasury disbursed Ksh.13.5 billion last week.
“The Teachers Service Commission has been working tirelessly to ensure that all public school teachers receive their salary raises for July and August by Friday, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to addressing teachers’ concerns,” said Ogamba.
To restore industrial harmony within the education sector, Ogamba noted that the Government is currently engaged in discussions with the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET). “We are optimistic that these talks will lead to KUPPET members returning to work, as the second phase of the CBA has been fully implemented, and other administrative issues are being handled by the Teachers Service Commission,” he added.
On Sunday, the government released Ksh.21.8 billion to public institutions in preparation for the reopening of schools on Monday, August 26, 2024. Ogamba emphasized that this funding would ensure a smooth resumption of school activities for the new term.
He directed school administrators to use the funds appropriately to benefit students, cautioning them against imposing unauthorized fees. The funds were allocated as follows: Ksh.1.6 billion for free primary education, Ksh.6.1 billion for free day Junior School education, and Ksh.14.1 billion for free day secondary education.
The release of these funds came amid a looming nationwide teachers’ strike, initially set to begin on the day schools reopen for the third term. While the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has since called off their planned strike, KUPPET continues with theirs.
CS Ogamba highlighted further government measures, mentioning President Dr. William Samoei Ruto’s recent announcement on August 25, 2024, that an additional 20,000 teachers would be employed by the end of the year to alleviate staffing shortages in public schools. Additionally, the government has allocated Ksh.18.7 billion for converting intern teachers to permanent and pensionable status by January 2025. “These efforts show that all significant issues that prompted strike notices are being addressed or are set to be resolved soon,” he stated.
Ogamba also urged primary school teachers who have not yet returned to work to do so before the start of the third term, stressing the importance of preparing students for national assessments and examinations and ensuring syllabus completion for a smooth educational transition.
Regarding funding for trainees in National Polytechnics and other Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions, Ogamba mentioned ongoing collaborations with the National Treasury to begin disbursing Ksh.3.3 billion in capitation, scholarships, and loans. “We aim for timely disbursement to ensure uninterrupted operations in our TVET institutions and convenience for our trainees,” he explained.
In a related development, the Employment and Labour Relations Court on Tuesday temporarily halted KUPPET’s nationwide strike, pending a decision on a case filed by the Teachers Service Commission on Monday.
