An illustration Pupils in class. Teachers Service Commission will hire intern teachers on permanent
and pensionable terms of service.
Primary school teachers are among the biggest beneficiaries of the increase in basic salary following the implementation of the reviewed 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement by the Teachers Service Commission in August
Implementation of Phase 2 of the agreement means that individuals in the lowest grade of B5, which comprises newly-recruited primary school teachers, will receive Sh23,830 up from Sh22,793. The increase was backdated to July 2024.
In a circular released by TSC Chief Executive Nancy Macharia on August 29, the salary review also means that teachers in Grade C5 will receive an additional Sh984 from Ksh78,667 to Ksh79,651. Chief Principals under Grade D5 earning Sh159,534 will now take home Sh162,539.
“Teachers converting into the new salary scales will retain their current incremental dates. However, where the incremental date falls on 1st July 2024 teachers will be granted their annual increment on the existing salary scales then convert to the new salary points with effect from the same date,” the circular read.
The Commission also announced that teachers will also receive house allowance of between Sh3,850 and Sh50,000 based on three clusters.
Teachers in cluster 1 reside in Nairobi and will receive between Sh6,750 for the lowest ranked and Sh50,000 for the highest ranked.
“The house allowance rates cluster have been reviewed from 4 to 3. Cluster 4 rates have been phased out and the teachers previously earning allowance rates in this cluster will adopt house
allowance rates for cluster 3,” the circular read.
Cluster 2 consists of Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi, and Kitale. Teachers under this tier will receive between Sh4,500 and Sh35,000, while those in cluster 3 will get between Sh3,850 and Sh25,000.
However, the rates for hardship, commuter, annual leave, and disability guide allowances remain unchanged.
The CBA was effected¬ after the government released Sh13 billion for salaries and allowances.
The development was preceded by a consultative meeting between TSC and teachers’ union in Nairobi on August 21 aimed at addressing implementation of the CBA and other demands such as conversion of intern teachers, administration of the medical scheme, and promotion of 130,000 teachers.
The CBA – which was signed by TSC, KUPPET, KNUT, and KUSNET in 2021, to create a pathway for enhancement of teachers’ welfare – will be effective up to 30th June 2025. The initial phase of the agreement was implemented in July last year.
