Public universities in the country have asked the government through the National Treasury to ease their cash flow.

Already universities are facing financial problems with some of them insisting on cutting on the cost of operation by cutting on staff salaries and dismissing non-essential staff.

Public universities have been facing financial difficulties in recent years due to a drop in the number of self-sponsored students in the wake of radical reforms in the education sector that saw the number of students attaining a C+ in KCSE drop.

In the current fiscal year, the National Treasury allocated the university education vote Ksh.113 billion, which was a drop from Ksh. 123.6 billion universities received in the previous years. The drop has been blamed on the effects of COVID-19 on the economy.

In the last three years, the number of students enrolling for self-sponsored courses has dropped significantly, hitting universities hard, as they generated billions from this program.

According to Treasury Principal Secretary Julius Muia, while speaking in parliament, he said that a number of public universities had requested additional funding, showing the financial burden that public universities are having.

“Several universities have already written to us and requested for additional funding amounting to Sh20 billion,” he said while addressing the National Assembly Committee on Education.

“University of Nairobi, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kisii University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology, Egerton University and Kabianga University have made requests,” he added. 

Universities have been forced to freeze on new hiring as they struggle to pay salaries and huge debts. COVID-19 that forced educational institution close, made matters worse.

This development comes even as parliament gave the green light to increase of university tuition fee from Ksh.16000.00 to Ksh.49000.00, the first such increment in almost 30 years. A move that has sparked riots from university students across the country.

Read Also:Requirements for intern teachers.

More than 38,314 former university students in the country have defaulted on their HELB(Higher Education Loans Board) loans in the 10 months from February 2020 due to the effects of COVID-19 that resulted in mass layoffs, closure of businesses, and freeze of hiring.

This number now brings the total defaulters to 116,642 from 78,328 recorded in December of 2019, according to data presented to parliament on Wednesday.

This means that more than Ksh. 11.3 billion is in default out of Ksh 45.5 billion given to students in loans, giving HELB a non-performing ratio of 24.8% way above the average 13.6%.

According to HELB CEO Charles Ringera, “The total mature outstanding debt is Sh45.5 billion held by 323,666 loanees out of which 207,024 are currently repaying their loans worth Sh34.2 billion.”

This development highlights the struggles former students are facing due to the effects of COVID-19 for those in formal employment or doing business.

The country was in partial, lockdown for several months after the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in the country.

For the first time in 12 years, the country’s economy has shrunk resulting in more than 1.72 jobs lost directly or indirectly.

However, the agency said that it was pursuing more than 78,328 defaulters holding some Ksh. 7.7billion.

TSC is set to recruit intern teachers in the country to fill vacant positions in both primary and secondary school, here are the intern teachers’ requirements.

Early this week, TSC announced that it would recruit 6674 intern teachers as schools prepare for reopening in January 2021 after students remained home for over 9 months due to the effects of the Covid- 19 pandemic.

TSC has asked those interested to apply online at www.tsc.go.ke or www.teachesonline.go.ke, before 14 December 2020.

The third term for the 2020academic year is set to begin on 4th January 2021 for grade 4, class 8, and form IV while the rest of the students will be talking the second term.

Intern Teachers’ Requirements

For interested candidates, here below are the requirements.

• All applications should be done online not later that 14^th December 2020.
• Current teachers serving as interns are not eligible to apply for the new positions.
• The applicants must be Kenyan citizens registered with the commission.
• Must be a holder of P1 certificate for Primary school teachers and a minimum of a Diploma in Education certificate for secondary school teachers.
• Have certified original academic and professional certificates.
• Should not have been in previous employment with the TSC as a teacher on permanent terms.
• Be ready to be posted to any public educational institution in Kenya.
• Must have a Personal Accident Insurance to cover for personal risks during the internship period.

In addition to these requirements, all candidates will also be require to possess the following.

• A copy of the National ID or Passport.
• A copy of the Teacher Registration Certificate or printout from the TSC online portal showing evidence of registration.
• A copy of National Council for Persons with Disability card where applicable.
• A valid certificate of good conduct.
• Two colored passport size photographs.
• A copy of the NHIF card.
• A copy of KRA Pin.

Note that successful candidates will be paid Ksh.15000.00 for primary school teachers and 20000.00 for high school tutors. The payment is inclusive of all the expected deductions such as NSSF, NHIF, HELB Loan, PAYE among others.

TSC Intern Recruitment 2020: Kenya’s teaches service commission has announced that it will hire 6674 intern teachers who will report to duty in January as schools prepare for mass re-opening.

Of these 4676 tutors will be posted to secondary schools while the remainder, 1998 are set to join primary schools.

Those interested will be required to apply online not later than Monday 14, 2020. The internship will be for a period of 12 months. Those who will be successful will be insured with an internship certificate to show that they have been hired by TSC as interns.

Candidates can apply online on TSC website www.tsc.go.ke under ‘Careers’ or through www.teachesonline.go.ke.

Interested candidates should have the following qualifications: Must be registered by TSC, Not have been employed by TSC before, and work as interns among other qualifications.

This development came after TSC employed 10,000 inters last year to fill positions in various primary and secondary schools.

However, there have been complaints that the interns are underpaid with teachers’ unions KNUT and KUPPET calling for permanent employment of the interns.

For example, these interns will be paid Ksh.20000.00 for secondary school tutors and Ksh. 15000.00 for primary teachers.

This pay is subject to statutory deductions, which include KSh. 1,200 for a mandatory personal accident cover, KSh. 800 to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), Sh. 1,741 as Pay as You Earn (Paye), and KSh. 600 to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Ksh 3000.00 is paid to HELB for loans taken during their training.

The TSC intern recruitment 2020 exercise is expected to attract many applicants due to the effects of COVID-19 and the number of unemployed teachers that data put at over 300,000.