The Teachers Service Commission has established new grades for primary school teachers.
These Grades are divided into two categories:
a. Entry Grades and
b. Promotional grades
Entry Grades are automatic- a teacher is placed automatically upon successful recruitment and employment.
Promotional Grades, on the other hand, are attained after the teacher meets given requirements.
These grades are contained in the TSC Career Progression Guidelines for teachers, 2018.
According to the guidelines, there are eight grades for primary school teachers. They include:
1. Primary Teacher II (T- Scale 5)
This is an entry grade for all primary school teachers.
The basic requirements for this grade are:
a. A minimum mean grade of a C (Plain) in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education or any other recognized equivalent qualifications.
b. A Primary Teacher Certificate (PTE) or its approved equivalent.
2. Primary Teacher I (T-Scale 6)
This is a promotional grade for Kenyan primary school teachers.
Among other requirements, for a teacher to get promoted to this grade s/ he must have served as a Primary Teacher II T-Scale 5 for at least three years.
3. Senior Teacher II (T-Scale 7)
This is a promotional job group too and an entry to an administrative cadre.
This grade is competitive and subject to availability of vacancies.
For one to get promoted to this grade, s/he must have served as Primary Teacher I T-Scale 6 for at least three years among other conditions.
4. Senior Teacher I (T-Scale 8)
This is a promotional grade for school administrators in primary schools.
Promotion is highly competitive and subject to availability of vacancies.
One of the main requirements for this promotion is serving as a Senior Teacher II T-Scale 7 for a minimum of three years.
5. Deputy Head Teacher II (T-Scale 9)
This is a promotional grade for institutional administrators in primary schools.
Promotion to this job group is highly competitive and subject to availability of vacancies within the establishment.
To be promoted to this job group, one must have served as Senior Teacher I T-Scale 8 for at least three years, have satisfactory rating in teacher performance appraisal among other conditions.
6. Deputy Head Teacher II (T-Scale 10)
This is a promotional job group for primary school administrators.
To be promoted to this job group, one must have served as a Deputy Head Teacher II T-Scale 9 for at least three years among other requirements.
7. Head Teacher (T-Scale 10)
This is a promotional grade for school administrators in primary schools.
One must have served as a Deputy Head Teacher II T-Scale 9 for at least three years to be promoted to this job group.
8. Senior Head Teacher (T-Scale 11)
This is a promotional job group for institutional administrators.
One of the main requirements is having served as a Head Teacher or Deputy
Head Teacher T-Scale 10 for at least three years to be promoted to this job group.
