The teachers, drawn from all 47 counties, say weeks after completing the training, they have not been informed how much they will be paid or when the allowances will be released.
The training was aimed at strengthening teachers’ digital skills and enhancing the use of technology in teaching and learning as the government continues to implement Competency-Based Education.
The Ministry of Education has confirmed that more than 62,000 teachers were trained nationwide on ICT integration ahead of the distribution of digital learning devices to Junior Schools.
Teachers expected the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the ICT Authority to facilitate payment of the allowances. However, they say no definite payment rate was communicated before or after the training.
The situation has caused concern among the teachers, who say previous training programmes had clear guidelines on the amount payable and timelines for payment.
Teachers seek clarity from TSC
The affected teachers have made repeated attempts to obtain clarification from TSC but say they have not received a clear response on the outstanding allowances.
The teachers are now calling on TSC and the ICT Authority to communicate the approved payment rates and provide a definite timeline for settling the allowances.
They say clear communication from the two institutions would end uncertainty and assure the teachers that they will be compensated for their participation in the nationwide exercise.
The June programme targeted 62,565 JSS teachers from 20,855 schools across all 47 counties, with three teachers nominated from each school. A total of 3,754 trainers were identified, while 1,251 training venues were designated across the country.
Training supports digital learning rollout
The concerns come at a time when the government is expanding the use of digital technology in schools, with teachers expected to acquire new skills to support technology-based learning.
The programme forms part of the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project (KDEAP), which is supporting the rollout of digital learning infrastructure in public Junior Schools.
Under the first phase, 10,382 public Junior Schools are receiving teacher laptops and interactive smart boards, with more than 20,700 digital learning devices involved in the rollout.
The teachers want the matter resolved promptly, arguing that those who participated in the June training should not be left waiting indefinitely for information on their payments.
By Kithinji Njeru
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