The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has made a significant move by promoting 25,252 educators, lifting the previous requirement that mandated teachers to serve a minimum of three years in one position before advancing.
In a recent announcement, the commission revealed that 5,291 teachers were elevated despite not fulfilling the three-year service condition. Many of these promotions were to principal and deputy headteacher roles, where the number of qualified candidates was insufficient to meet the demand.
“In our recent promotion initiative, we found that the number of teachers who met the three-year criterion in the feeder grades was far below the available vacancies,” the commission stated in a release dated May 22.
This decision follows the National Assembly’s allocation of Sh1 billion to facilitate promotions, which only addressed 5,690 of the 25,252 open positions.
The commission noted that 1,410 teachers were promoted to principal positions under Grade D3, while 3,686 ascended to deputy headteacher roles under Grade C4. Only 598 teachers had the requisite tenure to qualify for the 1,410 principal positions, and 7,460 were eligible for the 3,686 deputy headteacher roles.
To remedy the shortfall, the commission temporarily reduced the requirement to just six months of service in one grade.
The TSC explained that this waiver was designed to attract a broader pool of candidates and tackle the ongoing challenge of teachers serving in acting capacities. “This policy shift has ensured that vacancies are filled competitively, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where recruitment and retention have posed challenges,” the commission noted.
Among the 5,291 teachers promoted without the three-year service, 3,427 were appointed to the vital roles of principal and deputy headteacher. The commission has urged that all teachers promoted under this temporary measure be retained, emphasizing that the waiver was crucial in addressing significant staffing shortages.
Looking forward, the commission plans to develop and disseminate standardized promotion guidelines, incorporating feedback from teachers, unions, and other stakeholders. This new framework will adhere to constitutional principles of equity, inclusiveness, and non-discrimination.
“The commission is dedicated to ensuring transparent and fair processes in future promotions,” the statement concluded.
While there has been contention regarding the promotion criteria, with Members of Parliament expressing strong criticism towards the Commission, the final decision on promotions has brought relief to teachers.
The promotion letters, which have already been prepared, will soon be sent to counties for collection by the successful candidates. The TSC is also expected to release the final promotions list after removing 1,864 teachers from it and making the necessary replacements.