Economy

TSC, teachers sign allowance deal after three years of tension

TSC

TSC chief executive Nancy Macharia and Knut boss Wilson Sossion speak to the Press. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has signed a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with tutors in a move that could mend three years of frayed relations punctuated with incessant talks and strikes.

The deal with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) safeguards allowances, some dating back to 2013.

The CBA, which runs from July 2013 to June 30, 2017, sets the stage for negotiation of another CBA starting next month. However, the basic salary component that had stalled the signing of the CBA will be negotiated in the 2017 -2021 CBA.

“The parties undertake to negotiate on the basic salary in the next cycle of negotiations,” said the pact signed by TSC chief executive Nancy Macharia and chairperson Lydia Nzomo with Knut secretary- general Wilson Sossion and chairman Mudzo Nzili signing on behalf of teachers.

Under the CBA, a P1 teacher’s starting salary remains between Sh16,692 and Sh21,304 while the highest paid teacher (a chief principal) will continue to take home a basic salary of Sh109,089 with the maximum being Sh144,928.

Teachers commuter allowances will range from Sh4,000 for those in Job group G (P1) to Sh16,000 for principals in Job Group R.

Responsibility allowance paid to heads of institutions will range from Sh1,500 for a single stream to Sh15,000 for schools with 10 streams.

Deputy head teachers will be paid Sh400 for a single stream and Sh4,000 for 10 streams.

Senior teachers in Job Group ‘K’ and below will get Sh300 for single streams and Sh600 for 10 streams.

The tutors will also be entitled to leave allowance per year, which will range from Sh4,000 for P1 teachers to Sh10,000 for principals, senior principals and chief principals.

Those deployed to special schools will get an allowance of Sh10,000 per month. Both parties Tuesday described the agreement as historic, saying that it was the first one in 48 years.

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