Teachers in These Regions to Lose Hardship Allowances
Teachers are currently facing concerns due to the Teachers Service Commission’s recent action to recover excessive payments from their pay slips, particularly in the hardship and house allowance categories. This move by the government has created anxiety among educators.
The government intends to eliminate the payment of hardship allowance in areas that have developed over time, claiming that these regions no longer qualify as hardship areas. A report regarding the review of hardship areas is scheduled to be presented in parliament soon, causing apprehension among teachers in these regions.
Teachers working in hardship areas are uneasy about the potential decisions of legislators. The report classifies hardship areas into three categories: extreme hardship, average hardship, and minimal hardship, which could lead to the suspension of payments in select regions.
This discussion stems from a public petition seeking to declare Rachuonyo North constituency a hardship region, as it faces significant poverty and challenges in its schools, such as low student enrollment and understaffing.
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To boost teacher morale and improve the education sector, the petition calls for the establishment of clear criteria for categorizing areas as hardship regions or not.
In the 2021-2025 period, several regions were officially designated as Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) and hard-to-staff areas by the commission, including various sub-counties in counties like Baringo, Garissa, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Mandera, Marsabit, Kitui, Narok, Samburu, Taita Taveta, Tana River, Turkana, Wajir, and West Pokot.
It’s important to note that not all regions mentioned above fall into the hardship region category, and some apply only to specific sub-counties rather than the entire county. Additionally, certain areas like Nyando, Lungalunga, Suba, Chonyi, and parts of Nandi continue to receive hardship allowance payments.
Teachers in These Regions to Lose Hardship Allowances
