Teachers are in for a rude shock after the Teachers Service Commission, TSC, moved to recover over-payments in house and hardship allowances. The government has proposed abolishing the payment of hardship allowances in places that have grown over time and shouldn’t be considered “hardship” zones
A report to review hardship allowances will be tabled in parliament for adoption in next week has caused jitters amongst teachers in hardship areas. Teachers in hard-hit areas are uneasy about a study to evaluate hardship allowance.
Regions have been classified in the report as facing extreme hardship, average hardship, and minimal hardship, allowing the possibility for payment suspension.
This comes after a petition to declare Rachuonyo North constituency a hardship area was read by National Assembly Speaker Hon. Moses Wetangula yesterday on behalf of a member of the public.
Representatives are drawn from, the Ministry of Public Service and Gender, the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, the Ministry of Education, The National Treasury and Planning, the Public Service Commission, the Teachers Service Commission, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Council of Governors, Commission on Revenue Allocation, Salaries and Remuneration Commission and The Judiciary
The petitioner claims that Rachuonyo North Sub-County has extremely high levels of poverty. The area’s schools have a low enrollment rate and a significant staffing shortage. Also, despite teachers working in nearby locations receiving the benefits, teachers in Karachuonyo North do not receive hardship allowances.
In order to boost teachers’ morale and education in hardship areas, the petition to the National Assembly is to consider the criteria determining hardship areas.
The following were designated as the official ASAL and hard-to-staff areas in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the period 2021 to 2025 by TSC:
The official ASAL and Hard to staff areas include;
- Baringo North; Tiaty East, Tiaty West, and Marigat sub-counties in Baringo County
- Garissa County
- Suba and Mbita sub-counties in Homa Bay County
- Isiolo County
- Mashuuru, Loitoktok, and Kajiado West sub-counties in Kajiado County
- Kwale County
- Magarini and Ganze in Kilifi County
- Lamu County
- Mandera County
- Marsabit County
- Mumoni, Mutito North, and Tseikuru sub-counties in Kitui County
- Narok South and Narok North sub-counties in Narok County
- Samburu County
- Taita Taveta County
- Tana River County
- Turkana County
- Wajir County
- West Pokot County
However, not all areas falling in the above categories enjoy hardship allowances as some its only applicable in some sub-county and not the whole county. It is advised that residents of Nyando, Chonyi, Lungalunga Suba, and parts of Nandi get hardship allowance payments.
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