Plan to hire 10,000 teachers frozen

From left: Education Ministry Principal Secretary Bilio Kipsang, Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi, Science and Technology PS Colleta Suda and Parliamentary Education Committee chair Sabina Chege during the launch of the Form One selection exercise in Nairobi on January 14, 2103. Photo/BILLY MUTAI  

In Summary

• The recruitment of teachers was to cost Sh4billion.
• The financial gap will also affect the promotion of teachers in various cadres which had been estimated to cost Sh5billion.

By OUMA WANZALA
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By CAROLINE WAFULA
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The Government has shelved plans to recruit 10,000 teachers due to lack of funds.

There were intentions of recruiting them in the 2014/2015 financial year and the Education Ministry requested for Sh15 billion to cater for the process. However, only Sh4 billion has been allocated.

According to Education Principal Secretary Bellio Kipsang, the financial gap will also affect the promotion of teachers in various cadres which had been estimated to cost Sh5billion. (READ: Cash crunch halts teacher promotions)

The recruitment of teachers was to cost Sh4billion.

During a presentation at the public sector budget hearings, Dr Kipsang also disclosed that the training of teachers and ICT equipment for ICT integration which was to cost sh800million has also been shelved.

COMPROMISE NEEDS

“We had planned to have sh600million for decentralisation of quality assurance in teaching, low cost boarding schools in arid and semi-arid areas at sh400million,” he said.

Other costs not catered for include special needs education (Sh500million), Higher Education Loans Board (Sh2.7million), provision of equipment to new technical training institutions and university colleges (Sh1.8billion) and subscriptions to international organisations (Sh563million).

Dr Kipsang warned that the gap could compromise the needs of the ministry but expressed confidence that they will work with other partnersto bridge the gap.

“All these challenges if not addressed will adversely affect areas, relevance and quality of our education at all levels,” he said.

Another Sh519million for provision of services in the counties, Sh365million for the Teachers Service Commission, Sh300million for digitisation of teachers records and Sh2.3billion provision of sanitary pads has been affected by the shortfall.

The report also indicates that curriculum review will not go on as planned because of a gap of sh569million. Allocation to technical and vocational training has also been reduced by sh2billion.

STALLED PROJECTS

School health and nutrition will miss Sh700million, re-engineering of IMIS Sh130million and primary and secondary infrastructure Sh1.1billion.

The principal secretary was speaking at Kenyatta International Conference Centre during the presentation of proposals to the public for preparation of the budget statement that is set to be submitted to the Parliamentary committee on budget and appropriation by February 15.

The Ministry has allocated Sh415 million for completion of Mtihani House where the Kenya National Examination Council is to be located. The project has stalled for the last 26 years.