KUPPET DEMONIZES TSC MOVE TO RECOVER HEFTY SALARIES FROM IRREGULARLY PROMOTED TEACHERS IN JULY 2020; TSC News
The Teachers Service Commission has vowed to clean its payroll starting in July 2020. This move has attracted uproar from a section of teachers who feel that the TSC is being unfair given that they did not promote themselves.
TSC TO CLEAN ITS PAYROLL COME JULY 2020
As July approaches, many tutors are waiting anxiously with some anticipating salary increments especially diploma teachers in secondary schools.
However, July 2020 is likely to bring along a lot of uncertainties especially for regular teachers who have earned salaries earmarked for school administrators since 2017.
According to the latest TSC circular on irregular promotions, the Commission is planning to recover the overpayments accumulated for the last three years, a move that could see the affected teachers’ payslips mutilated.
Besides, the pay cuts meant to recover the overpaid salaries, these tutors should be prepared for demotions from these senior positions.
KUPPET OPPOSES LOOMING PAY CUTS FOR IRREGULARLY PROMOTED TEACHERS
KUPPET has now written to the Teachers Service Commission, TSC to oppose the looming recovery of overpaid salaries by the Commission.
In the letter, the union expresses its dissatisfaction in the manner in which the TSC is dealing with the erroneous promotions.
UNILATERAL DECISION
The union has further accused the teachers’ employer of making unilateral decisions adding that the Commission ought to have consulted them on the matter.
According to KUPPET’s protest letter to the Commission, the process of cleaning TSC payroll should involve and represent the views of all the affected stakeholders.
Besides, the teachers who have been earning higher salaries should not be victimized since none of this is their doing.
TSC RECOVERED SALARIES
The Commission can recover salaries if the commission recalls the salary or if a teacher’s bank account is closed.
Any returned salary should be claimed in writing through the head of the institution.
It is upon the employee to notify the commission of any erroneous payment.
In case the employee passes on, then the next of kin should notify the bank immediately.
Heads of institutions should also report cases of death and absenteeism within 48 hours to prevent overpayment.
OVERPAYMENT
A TSC overpayment will be recovered as follows;
In reinstatement cases, the outstanding overpayment should be recovered in full but in case of death, any overpayment should be recovered in full from the employee’s pension benefits or gratuity.
SRC RECOMMENDATIONS
In 2017, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, SRC conducted a job evaluation to determine the salaries of various categories of teachers.
According to the recommendations fronted by the SRC in 2017, teachers’ earnings should commensurate their output and responsibilities.
Consequently, new grades/ job groups were introduced which saw tutors stratified into 11 levels.
All P1 teachers were upgrades to job group H and converted to grade B5.
Teachers in Job Group H were also upgraded to job group J and converted to grade C1.
SENIOR MASTER POSITIONS
The Commission also introduced the position of senior masters in post-primary learning institutions. They were given a responsibility allowance to commensurate their extra duties.
SPECIAL SALARY
The Commission also dished out special school allowance which was retained until June 30 2018 and converted to special allowance.