The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has urged Parliament to allocate an additional Sh10 billion to cover a funding shortfall in the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme, which provides medical cover for more than 400,000 teachers and one million dependants.
Acting TSC CEO Evelyn Mitei told the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Education on Thursday that the Commission had only been allocated Sh16.5 billion for the 2026/2027 financial year against a projected requirement of Sh26.5 billion.
“We have onboarded more than 400,000 teachers and one million dependants into the SHA scheme. However, the cost of providing adequate health services to all members continues to rise as we employ more teachers,” she explained.
Members of the Committee expressed concern over delays in integrating teachers into the new health insurance framework.
Kabondo Kasipul Member of Parliament Eve Obara questioned the operational rollout, noting that many teachers were “still stranded and uncertain about where to seek services.”
Committee Chairperson Julius Melly pressed for faster implementation, saying, “The rollout is too slow. We need to see teachers benefiting immediately.”
TSC boss acknowledged the teething problems, citing slow sensitisation and onboarding processes, but assured MPs that SHA was committed to streamlining the system.
The Committee also reviewed staffing plans, with Mitei revealing that TSC intends to recruit 16,000 additional teachers for Junior and Senior Schools next year at a cost of Sh1.9 billion to reduce the nationwide shortage of approximately 116,000 teachers.
“In the past three years, we have recruited 100,000 teachers. The 2026/27 plan continues this trajectory as we address shortages created by the Competency-Based Curriculum,” she told MPs.
On the absence of recruitment for primary schools, TSC explained that the collapse of the 8-4-4 system had resulted in a surplus at that level, while demand had increased for upper-level teachers.
MPs also raised concerns over the inequitable distribution of education projects, with Luanda lawmaker Dick Maungu asking why Western, North Eastern, and Rift Valley regions had no new capital projects.
The Commission clarified that only ongoing projects in Kwale, Kitui, and Murang’a counties had been allocated Sh61 million under the 2026/27 budget ceilings.
In addition, delayed promotions for teachers with Master’s and PhD qualifications and long-serving officers in acting positions were highlighted, with Mitei noting that Sh2 billion had been set aside for promotions and Sh7.2 billion to convert 20,000 interns to permanent, pensionable positions.
The TSC CEO warned that budgetary constraints could affect key reforms, including the rollout of a new administrative structure for Junior Schools and payment of acting allowances.
“We have no allocation for acting allowances, yet teachers continue to shoulder administrative responsibilities. We appeal for Parliament’s support to bridge these gaps,” she said.
The Education Committee is expected to table its report on the TSC’s budget proposals before the House in the coming weeks.
