TSC Under Fire on how Promotions for 25,252 Teachers were done

TSC Under Fire on how Promotions for 25,252 Teachers was done

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has come under scrutiny following the announcement of promotions for 25,252 teachers, igniting a heated discussion regarding the equity of these promotions across various counties in Kenya. Machakos County topped the list with 690 promotions, while Garissa had the fewest at 303.

The uneven distribution of promotions among counties and job grades has raised concerns about possible favoritism. Lawmakers have expressed their worries about the fairness of these selections in the national assembly. Nevertheless, TSC insists that the promotions were allocated fairly, regardless of the number of applicants from each county.

In the financial year 2024/2025, TSC reported that 5,291 teachers received common cadre promotions and affirmative action across all 47 counties. Notably, Isiolo, Lamu, and Mandera had significant promotion numbers, with 282, 280, and 270 teachers promoted, respectively. Conversely, counties like Kiambu, Nairobi, Murang’a, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Laikipia saw fewer promotions.

Promotions spanned from grade C2 to D5, with a large number occurring at grade C4, where 8,508 teachers were elevated. Other significant promotions included 5,425 to C5 and 4,971 to C3, with fewer promotions at higher executive levels.

TSC CEO Nancy Macharia defended the promotion process, highlighting compliance with the commission’s regulations, including Regulation 72 and career progression guidelines. However, MP Julius Melly, chair of the national assembly committee on education, noted inconsistencies, pointing out cases where some teachers received multiple promotions while others remained stagnant in the same job group for years.

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has also raised alarms. Acting Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima criticized the promotion criteria, arguing that it disadvantaged many educators, especially in densely populated regions. He cited instances where teachers were promoted after only six months, contrary to the three-year requirement.

The TSC has been requested to submit a detailed list by Thursday, outlining the criteria used for the promotions. In the meantime, the union continues to advocate for greater transparency and consultation in the promotion process.