No salary increase for JSS heads, as 343,485 teachers remain unemployed

No salary increase for JSS heads, as 343,485 teachers remain unemployed

In brief: Ogamba has dismissed the idea of increasing pay for primary school headteachers, despite their additional responsibilities under the Competency-Based Curriculum, which includes managing junior secondary schools.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba stated that there are 343,485 registered teachers who are not employed by the government.

On Wednesday, Ogamba informed the Senate that hiring by the Teachers Service Commission depends on several factors, including available funding and job vacancies.

“The Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission submit annual budget proposals and policy recommendations to the National Assembly Education Committee to advocate for sufficient funding and legislative support for teacher recruitment,” he explained.

The CS mentioned that the internship program aims to enhance skills with a clear connection between education, training, and practical experience, noting that since its launch in 2019, the commission has involved 94,300 teacher interns.

Ogamba also ruled out the possibility of increased pay for primary school headteachers due to their expanded roles under the Competency-Based Curriculum, stating that their compensation will continue to be governed by the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement signed with teacher unions.

When asked about efforts to ensure equitable access to free and quality education for children in marginalized and underserved areas, the CS mentioned the school feeding program, which he said would be expanded.

Ogamba stated that the government has implemented a low-cost boarding school initiative in regions where circumstances hinder school attendance, retention, and completion, such as arid and semi-arid areas.

“These students face various challenges, including harmful cultural practices like female genital mutilation, forced early marriages, and nomadic lifestyles that prevent regular class attendance,” he noted.

The CS also indicated that the government is working on integrating clean cooking solutions in schools to promote environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly practices.

Legislators inquired whether national and county governments collaborate to align the curriculum and training in county-managed vocational training centers with national standards.

Ogamba responded that the Technical, Vocational Education and Training Department collaborates with the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee and the Council of Governors to coordinate vocational training, focusing on policy development, legislation, standards, and the implementation of devolved functions.

He mentioned that there are 1,156 vocational training centers with a total enrollment of 141,157 trainees nationwide.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna asked what the government is doing to permanently resolve the underlying issues causing prolonged industrial action.

Regarding the strike by lecturers at the Technical University of Kenya, which resulted in the institution’s closure between February and March, Ogamba explained that since receiving its charter in 2013, the university has faced funding shortages.

He stated that the university generates approximately Sh207 million monthly, including Sh63.3 million in capitation, while it requires Sh314 million.

“Due to cash flow issues, the university had to pay net salaries to all staff and was unable to make statutory deductions (pensions, PAYE, and housing levy) and third-party deductions (union dues, bank loans, SACCOs, welfare, and insurance premiums) from employees’ salaries,” Ogamba said.

He added that the ministry and the university have developed a recovery plan.

Here is a summary of the proceedings at the Senate.

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐊𝐄𝐒, 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐀𝐏𝐒

Senator Catherine Mumma on alignment of training standards between VTCs and TVETs

Senator Catherine Mumma has raised concerns over the alignment of training standards between county-run Vocational Training Centers (VTCs) and nationally-managed Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, as well as the shortage of student accommodation across the country.

During the Senate sitting this Wednesday, Senator Mumma directed key questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Ogamba whether there exists any intergovernmental collaboration to harmonize curricula between VTCs and TVETs and steps being taken to address the accommodation crisis in tertiary institutions.

In response, the CS acknowledged that while the National Government is responsible for education policy, standards, curricula, examinations and tertiary institutions including TVETs, County governments manage VTCs as per the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution.

He said the Ministry, through the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), has engaged in intergovernmental collaboration with county governments via the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC) and the Council of Governors. These engagements, according to the Cabinet Secretary, have contributed to policy development, legislative support and the establishment of shared norms and standards to ensure uniformity in the quality of vocational education offered across counties.

On the issue of infrastructure and accommodation, the Ministry disclosed that Kenya has 1,156 VTCs with a total enrolment of over 141,000 trainees. While most trainees access training close to home, areas in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and urban centres have seen a higher demand for boarding facilities.

To address the shortage, the CS said the Government has partnered with development agencies such as the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the German Development Bank (KfW) and has also tapped into the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and local community support for infrastructural projects.

Moreover, the Ministry is encouraging private investors to engage in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to build accommodation facilities within tertiary institutions. He revealed that institutions with available land are being urged to form collaborative partnerships with private developers to ease the pressure on existing housing.

𝐿𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑟𝑠’ 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑜𝑒𝑠

Senator Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi) raised alarm over the prolonged closure of the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) from 3rd February to 18th March 2025 due to industrial action. Sen. Sifuna sought clarity on what steps the Government was taking to permanently resolve the root causes of unrest in institutions of higher learning.

In his response, the Cabinet Secretary revealed that since its elevation to a fully-fledged university in 2013, TUK has been grappling with chronic underfunding. The university’s monthly revenue of Ksh 207 million falls short of its expenditure needs, which stand at Ksh 314 million. The lion’s share of this expenditure, Ksh 272 million is consumed by the wage bill, resulting in failure to remit statutory deductions and piling debts now amounting to Ksh 12.99 billion.

To address the crisis, the CS said the Ministry of Education has committed to providing Ksh 145 million in net payroll support for the first half of 2025. Furthermore, a phased allocation of conditional grants is planned over the next seven financial years, starting 2025/2026 through 2031/2032, to support salary payments and clear statutory arrears. This move is aimed at forestalling future disruptions while stabilizing TUK’s financial health.

𝐼𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑦

Senator George Mbugua focused on learners with hearing impairments, requesting data on their enrollment and policy direction for inclusive education in lower primary. The Cabinet Secretary reported fluctuating enrolment numbers, 13,099 in FY 2022/23, a rise to 19,119 in FY 2023/24 and a drop to 11,399 in FY 2024/25 across special schools, integrated units and mainstream schools.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive education, guided by the Sector Policy for Learners and Trainees with Disabilities (2018). This policy empowers parents and guardians to choose the most suitable school for their children be it special, integrated or regular as long as appropriate support systems are in place.

CS Ogamba revealed that government support includes capitation of Ksh 1,420 per learner annually, with a top-up of Ksh 2,300 for special needs students. For those in boarding schools, an additional Ksh 11,000 per learner per year is provided. The Ministry clarified that boarding schools are not mandatory and that efforts are ongoing to strengthen day school support systems to assure parents of quality alternatives closer to home.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑜𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

Senator Joyce Korir tabled questions regarding the large number of unemployed yet qualified teachers. She sought data categorised by graduation year and information on employment caps per county. The Cabinet Secretary responded that as of now, 343,485 teachers are registered with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) but remain unemployed. He acknowledged that registration remains voluntary and not all graduates have complied.

“To mitigate the teacher unemployment crisis, the Ministry and TSC are enhancing collaborative recruitment efforts while lobbying for more budgetary allocations. However, disparities persist across counties, prompting calls for a fairer distribution strategy that ensures every region has adequate teaching staff,” explained the CS.

𝑅𝑒𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝐵𝐶

Senator Boni Khalwale (Kakamega) questioned whether the Government intended to review the remuneration of primary school headteachers in light of the added responsibilities under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which now includes overseeing pre-primary and Junior Secondary levels.

The Ministry confirmed that job evaluation is in the pipeline, with negotiations for the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement already underway. The Salaries and Remuneration Commission has received proposals for a comprehensive review, expected to be conducted in the 2025/2026 financial year. The evaluation according to the CS will consider increased workloads, expanded job content and the introduction of new teaching roles under CBC.

𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑦

Senator Daniel Maanzo (Makueni) raised concerns about educational access in marginalized regions. He questioned the Government’s approach to ensuring quality education, addressing teacher shortages and the feasibility of expanding the school feeding programme across drought-prone areas like Makueni.

In response, the Ministry emphasized its progressive strategy, which includes implementing school feeding programmes in food-insecure regions to improve attendance and nutrition. He revealed that some schools in Makueni are already benefiting from this initiative, with plans to expand coverage. Additionally, the Ministry is integrating clean cooking technologies into school kitchens as part of an eco-friendly and sustainable development agenda.

On teacher staffing, the national shortage currently stands at 98,461 teachers according to the CS. In response, the TSC has continued recruiting teachers annually, with 1,429 teachers already deployed across Makueni County in the current financial year. However, the shortage remains acute, highlighting the need for long-term systemic reforms.

The Senate’s probing session revealed the complex crisis facing Kenya’s education sector from underfunded universities and unpaid lecturers to special needs learners lacking support and thousands of unemployed teachers awaiting placement.

Isiolo County Senator Fatuma Adan Dullo’s question to CS Ogamba:

I have two technical colleges in isolo County that are not operational up to now, almost 10 years down the line. What are you, CS Ogamba, planning to do about stalled technical institutions across the country?

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