The Competency-Based Curriculum, CBC, whose pioneer class will be joining a junior class. The debate on who should host the school has been on for some time but now, it is official that it will be domicile in secondary schools but not primary.
State Department for implementation of CBC reforms PS Fatuma Chege sought set to the record yesterday.
According to PS Chege, some primary schools are allowed to host junior secondary school sections, the school will be independent of the primary section with its own board of management. The move is likely to put more strain on already overworked human resources with the Teachers Service Commission, TSC, planning to hire more teachers.
The situation is complicated with a 100 percent transition started by the government a few years ago. With the commission willing to hire 5000 teachers this year, which is a drop in the ocean, the only other option is promoting teachers with degrees in primary schools.
Bearing in mind that primary schools will be without classes eight and seven hence less workload. If TSC moves to promote primary teachers to work in secondary schools so as to handle junior students, then it will need to improve pay for these teachers.
Last week, nominated MP Wilson Sossion petitioned parliament to compel TSC to recognize teachers who have furthered their studies.
More than 30,000 teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission have been considered first in salary increments.
According to TSC boss Dr. Nancy Macharia, B5 which is mostly for primary school teachers has been disadvantaged for many years. The majority of teachers in this job group have been forgotten when it comes to salary increments
This job group has six notches. Both commuters and house allowances are equal in all six notches. The basic salary varies from one notch to another.
The teacher in the first notch earns a basic salary of 21,756 shillings while the teachers in the sixth notch take home a basic salary of 21,197 shillings.
Similarly, a school that is located in areas mapped as hardship areas will get a hardship allowance. A teacher in Grade B5 will get a monthly allowance of 6,600 shillings notch.
There are six notches. Each notch has a different salary. The salary increases from the first notch to the highest notch. Physical disability is another factor that contributes to the amount a teacher takes home.
In this job group, a teacher who is physically challenged is entitled to a disability guide allowance of 20,000 shillings per month.
The majority of teachers in this job group have been forgotten when it comes to salary increments. Their time has come to be remembered and Macharia assures them that starting next year, their payslips will read differently.
