We lack the funds to hire JSS instructors on a long-term basis, says CS Mbadi.
According to John Mbadi, the cabinet secretary for Treasury, the government lacks the funding necessary to hire junior secondary school teachers on a permanent and pensionable basis.
The CS went on to say that the government lacks funding for the extra 20,000 JSS instructors.
Mbadi stated that it was difficult to raise the necessary funds for teacher wage increases.
Speaking on Thursday, the CS continued, saying that because of a budget deficit, the government is unable to respond to the worries of JSS instructors.
“We don’t have resources for recruiting JSS teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, and we do not have the resources for the additional 20,000 JSS teachers that was reduced in the estimates,” Mbadi stated in a Citizen TV interview.
According to the CS, the year has been filled with difficulties that have limited funds.
A gap of almost Sh13 billion exists. Unless we make budget adjustments—which we don’t have room for—there is no money available for the JSS teachers’ conversation, Mbadi stated.
With a budget of Sh18.3 billion, the government intended to hire teachers who are currently completing internships.
A Sh346 billion budget shortfall was caused by the collapse of the Finance Bill 2024.
The Court of Appeal postponed plans in June to hire 46,000 intern teachers on full-time, permanent, pensionable positions.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court’s (ELRC) orders that TSC convert the internship to permanent and pensionable terms were suspended by Justices Asike Makhandia, Sankale Ole Kantai, and Ngenye Macharia.
Until the lawsuit brought by the commission chaired by Nancy Macharia is heard and decided, the JSS teachers will continue to work as interns.
TSC stated in its application that the directives from Justice ELRC had completely thrown its preparations into disarray because they had not budgeted for the money needed to recruit the intern instructors on permanent and pensionable terms.
“The rights of all learners in public schools underpinned under Articles 43 and 53 of the Constitution are on the verge of being violated, as the Commission has no financial resources to onboard the 46,000 on permanent and pensionable terms and conditions,” said Allan Sitima, a lawyer for the TSC.
We lack the funds to hire JSS instructors on a long-term basis, says CS Mbadi.
