CS Machogu Addresses 35,000 JSS Teacher’s Over-Salary Delay

By | May 5, 2023

CS Machogu Addresses 35,000 JSS Teachers Salary Delay, Gives Timeline

The Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu, has directed that more than 35,000 junior secondary school teachers, who were recently recruited, be paid their salaries expeditiously.

Speaking during a session with MPs, Machogu expressed regret that more than 50% of the teachers recruited by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) were yet to be paid, with some not having received salaries since February when they reported for duty.

“I want to apologize to our teachers for the delay in payment. There are those that we have been unable to pay.”

He explained that the delay in salary payments was due to the different reporting times of the teachers to the schools they were posted to.

Machogu assured the teachers that funds were available and that they would be paid as soon as possible.

“I’m getting information from the feed so we can pay them. I assure you that funds are available and we will be able to pay expeditiously,” said Machogu.

In response to a query by Nominated MP Sabina Chege, Machogu explained that after posting the teachers, the ministry relies on information from the principals on the specific days that they report so that payments can be processed.

The TSC issued a statement on Monday saying that it was working to ensure that the remaining batch of teachers would receive their dues in May.

“We apologize for any delays that may have been occasioned by late reporting of teachers to their stations, or delayed submission of requisite documents. All efforts are being made to effect all the salaries in May,” read a statement from TSC.

The commission apologised for any delays that may have been occasioned by late reporting of teachers to their stations or delayed submission of requisite documents.

Machogu also responded to a question by Isiolo MP Bonaya Golo regarding the understaffing and under-facilitation of Northern counties in the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum.

He explained that there were challenges such as a shortage of laboratories and classrooms, but plans were underway to equip the learning and teaching facilities by constructing more classrooms and laboratories in order to accommodate the increased enrolment.

He said that the ministry was in consultations with the World Bank, its development partner, and had agreed that the funding they were likely to get would go towards navigating the infrastructural problem.