TSC asserts that the recent promotions of 25,000 teachers, which were rejected by Parliament, were carried out in a fair and transparent manner.
What you need to know:
– The Parliamentary Committee on Education rejected the list of promotions, claiming that they were not executed fairly.
– Kuppet acting secretary general Moses Nthurima has requested transparency and fairness in teacher promotions.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has reiterated that the recent promotions of 25,000 teachers, which Parliament did not approve, were conducted with fairness and transparency.
Addressing the issue in public for the first time, TSC chief executive officer Nancy Macharia expressed her hope that the matter would soon be resolved amicably, allowing deserving teachers to commence enjoying their new positions. The Committee on Education of the National Assembly dismissed the list of promotions, asserting that the process was unfair and that some deserving teachers were excluded.
Ms. Macharia, whose decade-long tenure concludes on June 30, 2025, stated that throughout the years she has implemented numerous reforms, most of which have enhanced the educational system. She specifically referenced the promotions of 25,000 teachers across various categories, which have now generated considerable criticism.
She made these remarks during the Kenya National Schools Principals Forum held in Mombasa.
“Even before we were able to announce the results of the interviews, your own Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association and trade unions were vociferously protesting the criteria utilized for the promotions,” noted Ms. Macharia.
“Year after year, many of you have received deserved promotions and ascended to the highest levels of principal status, all attributable to the commitment with which the majority of you approach your responsibilities,” stated the TSC leader. Ms. Macharia declared that in her decade of supervising teachers as the CEO of the commission, the commission has diligently served the nation by guiding national schools in Kenya.
“Indeed, my willingness to engage with you today, with only two months remaining in my tenure, serves as evidence of how significant the 103-member Kenya National Schools Principals Forum is in the hierarchy of priorities,” remarked Ms. Macharia.
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), acting secretary general Moses Nthurima, has requested transparency and equity in teacher promotions.
“Promotions are awarded on merit, based on how individuals have contributed value to learners, engaged in co-curricular activities, and fostered the overall environment and development of learners. However, what the commission enacted was a distribution of positions equally across the counties,” remarked Mr. Nthurima.
For example, he mentioned Kiambu County, which has 11,000 teachers, alongside Wajir, which has 800 teachers, yet they ended up receiving an equal number of promotion slots, implying that populous counties, where the greatest number of teachers are experiencing stagnation, will be overlooked.
He questioned how TSC could promote teachers in marginalized regions within Arid and Semi-Arid Areas after only six months of service while leaving out those who have served for ten years.
“Where is the fairness in that? ” he inquired, adding that the promotion process lacked transparency, with unions being unaware of the criteria applied. He urged TSC to convene with teachers’ unions for further discussion on the issue.
Kuppet has communicated with the TSC requesting a meeting. Mr. Nthurima stated that should the meeting not take place, they will resort to alternative methods, including seeking a court injunction or conducting demonstrations.
“They simply proceed [without involving the union], subsequently publish it, and then proclaim it is fair. How can it be considered fair when we have teachers across the nation lamenting that they have been excluded for a decade? ” he added.
The Kuppet representative asserted that the promotions were politically motivated, with regions where the government believes it can secure more votes receiving a greater number of promotion opportunities.
“There is significant interference in the management of teachers by politicians at present. It is quite unfortunate for teachers currently as we have observed the selling of employment letters in churches and markets,” he added.
Nevertheless, Ms. Macharia denied allegations that politicians have influenced the promotions. She stated that she does not attend political meetings.
“You know, I learn about these matters through newspapers and social media. If you visit our website, you will find information on how teachers are recruited,” remarked Ms. Macharia.
Ms. Macharia mentioned that immediately upon the Kenya Kwanza administration coming into power, the National Assembly enacted legislation allowing the TSC to recruit teachers from the county level to ensure equitable opportunities for all.
“When the KK government came into power, it established that we recruit at the county level to provide everyone an opportunity so that the counties can compete amongst themselves, and from the ASAL areas that were suffering, we obtain role models and local candidates,” he emphasized.