TSC Demands Sh35.5 Billion to Promote Over 178,000 Stagnated Teachers.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is in urgent need of Sh35.5 billion to promote 178,881 teachers who have remained in the same job group for more than three years. The commission has faced continuous challenges in promoting eligible teachers due to inadequate funding, receiving only Sh1 billion annually over the past two years—an amount insufficient to meet the growing demand.
Appearing before the Education Committee of the National Assembly, TSC CEO Nancy Macharia explained that the commission is overwhelmed by an expanding backlog of promotion cases. This situation has significantly contributed to low morale and an increasing number of teachers leaving the profession.
Promotion delays have had a notable impact on the teaching workforce. Prolonged stagnation in the same grade has led to widespread dissatisfaction, decreased motivation, and higher turnover, particularly among seasoned educators. Dr. Macharia indicated that these challenges are compounded by complaints from teacher unions and persistent issues around equity and regional balance.
“Currently, there is a total of 178,881 pending promotion cases, and the commission requires an estimated budget of Sh35.4 billion to address the backlog,” said Dr Macharia.
Data from the TSC shows that 66,828 teachers have stayed in the same job group for as long as eight years, placing them at a disadvantage in terms of earnings and career growth. A further 9,285 have been in the same grade for between five and seven years, while another 102,768 have remained unchanged for three to five years.
Teacher promotions are guided by the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), which use a structured and objective assessment process during interviews. Dr. Macharia informed Parliament that the evaluation framework includes factors such as performance appraisal, leadership roles in institutions, age, and contributions to academic excellence.
Promotions are regarded as essential for boosting morale, as they elevate educators to higher job groups with improved pay and benefits. Conversely, extended stagnation is known to cause professional frustration.
Promotion issues were among the grievances raised during the secondary school teachers’ strike in August of the previous year. Recently, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) called on TSC to release a list of all eligible candidates for the 2024-2025 promotion cycle. Legislators have also pressed the commission to ensure fair promotion practices, particularly considering equity and regional representation.
Despite financial constraints, the TSC has managed to promote 151,611 teachers over the last three years across different cadres in primary and secondary schools, as well as in teacher training colleges. However, the current backlog highlights the need for significantly increased funding to address the pending cases comprehensively.
TSC Demands Sh35.5 Billion to Promote Over 178,000 Stagnated Teachers
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