Revised TSC Teacher Promotion Policy to Prioritize Age and Service Length

Recognition for Long-Serving Teachers

In an attempt to address the ongoing issue of career stagnation among educators, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has implemented new promotion guidelines. Numerous teachers, having dedicated decades to their profession, have reported that they have never been awarded a promotion. The Commission now aims to rectify this situation by honoring their dedication and years of service.

Promotion Based on Age and Tenure

According to Nyanza TSC Regional Director Japhet Kariuki, the updated promotion criteria will emphasize the length of service and the age of a teacher. He clarified that these factors would only be prioritized if the respective teacher had maintained an unblemished disciplinary record.

Kariuki indicated that the Commission intends to ensure that no teacher will go through their entire career without receiving a promotion, noting that both age and years of service will now play a central role in the promotion process.

“We do not wish for a teacher to commence their employment and retire without receiving a promotion. Age and years of service will henceforth be significant considerations to tackle the issue of career promotion stagnation,” Kariuki stated.

He underscored that moving forward, teachers’ discipline records and commitment will serve as the primary benchmarks for promotion to align with the CBC.

Speaking at Migori Stadium during the second day of the Kenya Primary School Headteachers Association (KEPSHA) regional annual general meeting, Kariuki provided insights into the reforms being undertaken. These modifications are part of a comprehensive initiative by the Commission to improve both the quality of education and the welfare of teachers.

Concerns Over Transparency and Equity in Promotions

On Tuesday, Members of Parliament confronted the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) regarding what they characterized as unjust and ambiguous promotion practices. They expressed concern over the allocation of 25,252 promotion slots, citing allegations of inequality and political manipulation in the process.

In her appearance before the National Assembly Committee on Education, TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia defended the exercise. She articulated that the process was grounded in law and decentralized to guarantee equitable regional representation. The CEO indicated that the commission had enhanced accessibility by conducting interviews at the sub-county level, striving for fairness and inclusivity.

The promotion slots were allocated earlier in the year following a Sh1 billion disbursement by the National Treasury. Among those promoted were 5,690 teachers who responded to November advertisements and 19,943 who submitted applications following the December call.

Dr. Macharia emphasized that priority was accorded to teachers in acting roles, those who had remained stagnant in the same job group for an extended duration, and older tutors. Evaluation was also conducted based on elements such as Teacher Performance Appraisal ratings and engagement in co-curricular programs.

Legislators Question Fairness and Distribution

Despite TSC’s clarifications, MPs expressed discontent with the integrity of the promotion exercise. Concerns were raised that certain deserving teachers had been consistently overlooked, while others had received multiple promotions in rapid succession.
Committee Chair Julius Melly deemed the uniform distribution across counties to be questionable and inconsistent with historical practices. He contended that it overlooked disparities in population and educational needs, raising concerns over the rationale behind a teacher receiving multiple promotions while others remained in the same position for over ten years.

The committee directed the TSC to furnish comprehensive documentation regarding the promotion process. They requested information such as the number of applicants per sub-county, the evaluation criteria, and the scoring system employed. Melly asserted that Jamleck Muturi, the TSC chairperson, was anticipated to submit complete records demonstrating how merit and fairness were maintained throughout the selection process.

Further criticism was voiced by Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo, who charged the commission with harboring political motives in the equal promotion of teachers across counties. He argued that although the commission possesses the authority to promote and redeploy educators, the allocation of equal slots disregarded whether the action was for employment purposes or for balancing political interests.

Igembe North MP Julius Taitamu also challenged the distribution, questioning the justification for teachers from less populated counties receiving the same number of promotion opportunities as those from more densely populated areas. Taitamu articulated that the distribution did not reflect equity and fairness, characterizing it as skewed and unbalanced.

Revised TSC Teacher Promotion Policy to Prioritize Age and Service Length