Given that life expectancy has decreased significantly and early retirement for teachers has become commonplace, this is an issue that keeps them awake at night every time they consider the balance of their pension plans
After years of focusing on a career, most teachers look forward to the day when they will be able to do all of the things they never had time for. To be able to survive financially, most teachers retire at the age when they become eligible for pension benefits.
They may, however, choose to retire early for a variety of reasons. Teachers Retirement Age in Kenya Teachers’ retirement age is not determined by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) but is enshrined in law through a parliamentary act.
The Kenyan government raised the retirement age for employees from 55 to 60 in 2009 in order to keep skilled workers on the job for longer. The same applies to teachers.
Prior to the amendments, the retirement age was 55 years. Currently, the retirement age for teachers is set at 60 years, and 65 years for those with disabilities.
This was a wise decision because it allows teachers who have been in the classroom for many years to continue mentoring newly hired teachers.
Teachers’ Early retirement
A teacher may choose to retire early for a variety of reasons. Such a teacher must apply in writing through the institution’s head and provide three months’ notice stating the intended date of retirement.
Following the receipt of the application, the commission issues a retirement notice. After receiving the necessary documents, it processes the retirement claim. This claim is then forwarded to the Treasury’s director of pensions for payment.
The teacher’s service commission allows a teacher to retire at the age of 50 after completing ten years of continuous service on permanent and pensionable terms.
Lecturers Retirement Age
The specific retirement age for lecturers has long been a source of contention, with lecturers taking the matter to court through the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), accusing their employers of doublespeak on the subject.
Documents presented in court by UASU proposed that retirement age was a compromise agreement reached between lecturers and universities.
The UASU had previously proposed that the retirement age be raised to between 65 and 75 years, but the labor court declined, stating that raising the retirement age to 75 was contrary to public policy, which required public servants to retire at the age of 60.
The court argued that the proposal to change the retirement age was part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The court refused to raise the exit age. This decision dealt a significant blow to old lecturers.
The lecturers were dissatisfied with the ruling, claiming that it was a major setback for universities and would have a negative impact on educational quality. The departure of old professors may jeopardize the credibility of universities, as the old dons are well-versed in their fields of service.
