TSC Teacher Recruitment Guidelines for Post-Primary Institutions (Permanent and Pensionable Terms) – 2024/2025.
1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION
i) Following the advertisement for recruitment of teachers, Regional Director, Nairobi,
County Directors and Sub-County Directors are required to conduct the selection
exercise for the advertised vacancy (ies).
ii) Applicants MUST submit their applications to the Secretary, Teachers Service Commission
through the online platform www.teachersonline.go.ke for the institution/SubCounty/Counties where a vacancy(ies) has been declared.
iii) The Selection Panel is expected to uphold the highest standards of transparency and
accountability, as stipulated in the Public Officer Ethics Act, and TSC Code of Conduct
and Ethics (CoCE, 2015).
iv) The TSC Regional Directors shall induct TSC County Directors within their areas, who, in
turn, shall induct members of the Selection Panels involved in the recruitment process.
The areas of induction will include the relevant Sections of the TSC Act and the Code of
Regulations for Teachers (CORT, 2015) before the commencement of the selection
exercise.
v) TSC Sub-County Directors, in liaison with their respective TSC County Directors and the
Regional Director in the case of Nairobi, shall ensure that venues earmarked for the
selection process are accessible to applicants with disabilities.
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vi) All applicants MUST be duly registered teachers per Section 23(1) of the Teachers Service
Commission Act, 2012. Applicants who are not duly registered shall not be considered
for recruitment.
vii) TSC Sub-County Director MUST verify the TSC registration status of the applicants at
shortlisting stage to avoid engaging unregistered/deregistered teachers or ineligible
applicants.
viii) Applicants whose names vary in the academic and professional certificates and
identification cards MUST present an Affidavit, sworn under the Oaths and Statutory
Declarations Act, Cap 15 of the Laws of Kenya, explaining the name variance.
ix) Applicants who re-sat either KCPE or KCSE examinations (or their equivalents) MUST
present certified copies of the certificate(s) of the national examination(s) for all
attempts. Copies of the certificates must be certified by the Sub-County Directors.
In case the exam was cancelled, applicants must present a letter from the Head of
Institution and a certified copy of the KNEC printout from the school confirming the
cancellation.
The TSC Selection Panel(s) shall verify applicants’ professional, academic and
any other relevant documents before selecting candidates.
x) Upon generation of Applicants’ List from the system, the TSC County Director shall share
the lists with TSC Sub-County Directors who shall convene the Sub-County Selection
Panel(s).
xi) Upon generating the Applicants’ Lists, the TSC County Director shall share the lists with
the TSC Sub-County Directors. The TSC Sub-County Directors shall convene the SubCounty Selection Panel(s). The Selection Panel(s) shall identify interview venues, dates,
and times, which shall be communicated to the applicants.
xii) All the applicants shall be invited for the verification of documents. The applicants shall
be informed of the interview venue, date and time at least seven (7) days before the
verification exercise through SMS.
xiii) Upon invitation for interview, applicants shall be required to present originals and clear
photocopies of the following documents: –
a) National identification card;
b) Certificate of Registration as a teacher;
c) Diploma/Degree certificate and official transcripts;
d) KCSE certificates or its equivalent (include certificates for attempts if one re-sat
exams);
e) KCPE certificate or its equivalent (include certificates for attempts if one re-sat
exams);
f) Primary and Secondary School leaving certificates and other relevant
testimonials;
g) National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) Card (where applicable);
h) An Affidavit sworn under the Oaths and Statutory Declarations Act, Cap 15 of the
Laws of Kenya to explain the variance in names;
i) Letter of certification of results by KNEC (where applicable).
Note: Serving interns will only be required to present their identity cards during the verification
process.
xiv) Persons with disabilities shall be required to indicate their disability status together with
the nature of disabilities to inform their placement;
xv) In the event of a tie, consideration for selection will be determined as per the order of
priority shown hereunder: –
a) Length of Stay since graduation;
b) Strength of academic and professional certificates presented.
N/B: If applicants tie at aggregate grades, subject grades shall be considered
xvi) The names of interviewed applicants ranked in order of performance in the selection
process for each vacancy (Appendix iii) shall be submitted to the Commission by the
TSC County Director together with successful applicants’ recruitment documents.
xvii) Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously been employed by the
Commission on Permanent and Pensionable terms.
xviii) Preference shall also be given to applicants from the respective Sub-Counties or
Counties.
xix) Any Application for Employment form filled or Offer of Employment issued based on
misleading information provided by the applicant shall be cancelled immediately
without any further reference to the candidate.
This underscores the seriousness of providing accurate and truthful information in the application process.
xx) During the interview, the TSC Sub-County Director shall develop Sub-County Merit Lists.
xxi) The TSC-Sub-County Director shall submit the Sub-County Merit Lists to the TSC County
Director.
xxii) The TSC County Director shall compile County Merit Lists to be used for verification at the
headquarters.
2.0. AUTHENTICATION OF ACADEMIC, PROFESSIONAL AND OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS
TSC Teacher Recruitment Guidelines for Post-Primary Institutions (Permanent and Pensionable Terms) – 2024/2025.
i) Applicants must present original and legible photocopies of the following
documents: –
a) National identification card;
b) Certificate of Registration as a teacher;
c) Diploma/Degree certificate and accompanying transcripts;
d) KCSE certificates or its equivalent (include certificates for attempts if one resat exams);
e) KCPE certificate or its equivalent (include certificates for attempts if one resat exams);
f) Letter of certification of results by KNEC (where applicable);
g) Primary and Secondary School leaving certificates and other relevant
testimonials;
h) National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) Card (where
applicable);
i) An Affidavit sworn under the Oaths and Statutory Declarations Act, Cap 15
of the Laws of Kenya to explain the variance in names.
NB: Provisional transcript(s) shall not be accepted.
ii) The Sub-Selection panel shall verify that: –
a) The applicant meets the requirements stipulated in the TSC advertisement;
b) All submitted original academic and professional certificates, as well as
official transcripts are authentic.
iii) Any applicant(s) who present forged/fake academic, professional and other
documents commit(s) an offence and shall be disqualified and/or deregistered.
iv) The TSC Sub-County Director shall certify photocopies of the certificates and
confirm they are true copies of the applicant’s original academic and
professional certificates prior to the interview.
v) It is the responsibility of the TSC County Director and the TSC Sub-County Directors
to ensure that the:
a) Exercise is fair and transparent;
b) The Selection Panels are satisfactorily sensitized on the recruitment process;
c) The interviews are conducted as stipulated in these guidelines and any other
circulars applicable to the process;
d) Only the successful applicant(s) on the Merit List are employed.
The TSC Sub County Director should ensure that successful applicant(s) from the
Merit List is/are issued with Application for Employment forms to fill.
vi) All the relevant recruitment documents shall be submitted to the TSC County
Director’s office by the TSC Sub-County Director.
The TSC County Directors shall l conduct verification of the documents and ensure that all the requirements are met by the successful applicants before issuing duly signed Offer of Employment Letters and submitting the recruitment documents (as per the approved checklist)
to the TSC Headquarters within the stipulated timelines.
3.0 SELECTION PANEL FOR INSTITUTIONS WITH BOMs
(a) Chairperson, Board of Management – Chairperson
(b) Head of the Institution – Secretary
(c) Subject Specialist – Member
(d) Parent Association (PA) Chairperson – Member
(e) TSC Sub-County Director/ Representative – Member
TOTAL 5 _
3.1 SELECTION PANEL FOR SCHOOLS WITHOUT BOMs
(a) TSC Sub – County Director/ Representative – Chairperson
(b) Head of the Institution – Secretary
(c) Subject Specialist – Member
(d) PA Chairperson – Member
(e) PA Member – Member
TOTAL 5_
3.2 SELECTION PANEL FOR JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS
(a) TSC Sub County Director – Chairperson
(b) TSC Sub County Human Resource Officer – Secretary
(c) Curriculum Support Officer – Member
TOTAL 3_
4.0 SELECTION CRITERIA
i) The TSC Sub-County Director shall provide the selection panel with a list of all applicants
as received from the TSC County Director.
ii) The selection panel shall interview only those who meet the set criteria. The TSC SubCounty Director should note any inconsistency (ies), adhere to the guidelines and guide
the applicants /selection panel and the Commission accordingly.
iii) Applicants shall appear in person before the selection panel. The selection panel shall
score each applicant based on the selection score guide (Appendices 1 (a) or 1 (b))
NB. An applicant with disabilities related to hearing and/or speech shall be allowed the
company of a sign language interpreter.
5.0 QUALIFICATIONS
5.1. Graduate Teachers
Applicants must have a minimum mean grade of C+ (plus) at KCSE and C+ (plus) in each
of the two teaching subjects or two (2) Principles and one (1) Subsidiary pass at ‘A’ Level.
In addition, they must have either:
(a) A Bachelor of Education Degree with two (2) teaching subjects or,
(b) A Bachelor of Science or Arts Degree plus a Post Graduate Diploma in Education
(PGDE) with two teaching subjects or,
(c) Bachelor of Science with Education/Bachelor of Arts with Education with two
teaching subjects or,
(d) Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Extension with two teaching
subjects.
N.B: Applicants with the following qualifications are also eligible;
i) Bachelor of Education holders with a mean grade of C Plain and C Plain in the two teaching
subjects at KCSE and have undertaken a Diploma in Education or those who obtained a
Mean Grade C (Plain) at KCSE and C (Plain) in the subjects of study at A-Level and obtained
at least 1 Principle and 2 Subsidiaries for Sciences, 2 Principles and 1 Subsidiary for Arts prior
to undertaking a Bachelor of Education Degree
ii) Diploma in Education Holders with a Mean Grade of C+ (Plus) and C+ (Plus) in the two
teaching subjects at KCSE and have undertaken a Bachelors of Education Degree.
iii) Bridging/Pre-university certificates for those who completed the course before December
31st, 2015 are considered.
5.2. Diploma Teachers
Applicants must have a minimum Mean Grade of C+ (Plus) at KCSE or its equivalent with
at least C+(plus) (or Credit pass) in the two teaching subjects or one (1) Principle and two
(2) Subsidiaries at ‘A’ level. In addition, they must have: a Diploma in Education from a
recognized Teacher Training Institution with at least C+ (Plus) in the two teaching subjects.
N.B:
a) Diploma Teachers who graduated in 2008 or before with a mean grade of C (plain)
and C (plain) in the two teaching subjects are eligible
b) Hearing and visually impaired teachers who enrolled for training with Mean Grade of
C (Plain) and C (Plain) in the two teaching subjects are eligible.
5.3. Technical Teachers
Applicants must have a minimum Mean Grade of C+ (Plus) at KCSE or its equivalent with
at least C+ (Plus) in the two teaching subjects or one (1) Principle and two (2) Subsidiaries
at ‘A’-Level in subjects studied. In addition, they must have either:
i) Bachelor of Education Technology (BeD TECH); or,
ii) Bachelor of Science (BSc) in any relevant technical
Subject (s) /Course; or
iii) Higher Diploma in a technical course; or
iv) A Diploma in a technical course.
Further, applicants under category (ii) above MUST possess a Diploma in Technical
Teacher Education from Kenya Technical Trainers College (KTTC), previously known as
Kenya Technical Teachers College.
N.B: TSC Teacher Recruitment Guidelines for Post-Primary Institutions (Permanent and Pensionable Terms) – 2024/2025.
1) Applicants whose training is in subjects that are currently not in the Secondary School
Curriculum do not qualify, irrespective of their having undertaken a Post Graduate
Diploma in Education (PGDE) and/or enhancement. This category includes but is not
limited to Bachelor of Science /Bachelor of Arts in:
- Natural Resources
- Horticulture – Fisheries
- Meteorology
- Farm Machinery
- Anthropology
- Forestry – Sociology – Biotechnology
- Animal Husbandry
- Journalism
- Theology / Divinity
2) Applicants with Economics/Commerce/Accounting can apply for Business Studies and
those with Social Education and Ethics (SEE) can apply for CRE/IRE.
3) Diploma Teachers with English/other subjects qualify for employment as teachers of
English/Literature on condition that they have adequate units in both Language and
Literature.
5) All applicants must have studied the two teaching subjects at KCSE except for Agriculture,
Business Studies, Home Science, and Computer Studies. For those who did not study
Business Studies and Computer Studies, one should have attained a minimum of C+ (Plus)
in Mathematics at KCSE. For those who did not study Agriculture and Home Science, one
should have attained a minimum of C+ in Biology at KCSE.
6) Graduate Teachers should have studied a minimum of eight (8) course units in each
teaching subject. In addition, the teachers must have studied Special Methods in their two
teaching subjects of choice together with a minimum of three (3) months teaching
practice.
7) Enhancement certificate(s) and transcripts shall only apply where an applicant had not
covered the minimum number of units during the degree/ diploma programme.
8) Applicants who chose to study a third subject must ensure that they have studied all the
units in the chosen subject as offered by the selected institution for four years of study
together with special methods and teaching practice. In addition, there should be
evidence that the applicants have covered the approved credit hours for the course.
9) Applicants previously employed under contract and whose services were terminated due
to inadequate units in teaching subjects and have since obtained enhancement
certificates with adequate units are eligible to apply.
10) Kenya Sign Language (KSL) and Braille are considered as teaching subjects in Special
Needs Education e.g. Biology/KSL and Geography/Braille.
11) Applicants who have studied subjects in the new learning areas of the CBC curriculum like
integrated science, Guidance and counseling and social studies are eligible to apply.
6.0 VALIDATION OF DOCUMENTS BY THE TSC COUNTY DIRECTOR
The TSC County Directors should: –
i. Ensure that the recruitment documents have all the attachments required as provided
for in the approved checklist/s;
ii. Verify that the recruitment documents to ensure that the applicant(s) recruited qualify
for employed as a teacher as per the provisions of the recruitment guidelines;
iii. Ensure that all documents are duly signed as required; including the score sheets, Minutes
of the Selection Panels, confirming that the candidate qualifies.
iv. Compile complaints received and submit appropriate action taken or
recommendations to the Commission.
7.0 DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE TSC HEADQUARTERS
According to the Teacher Recruitment Guidelines for Post-Primary Institutions (Permanent and Pensionable Terms) – 2024/2025, the County Director is required to hand over the following documents to the TSC Headquarters:
i) Duly signed file copy of the Offer of Employment letter together with:
a) Certified copies of:
- National Identification Card;
- Certificate of Registration as a teacher;
- Academic certificates;
- Professional certificates and all official transcripts;
- Letter of Certification of results by KNEC (where applicable);
- NCPWD Card (where applicable);
- An Affidavit sworn under the Oaths and Statutory Declarations Act, Cap.
- 15 of the Laws of Kenya to explain the variance in names (where
- applicable);
- Bank plate/Card (front face);
- KRA PIN Certificate;
- NHIF Card.
b) Two (2) passport size colour photographs in respect of successful applicant(s);
c) Original Medical Examination report in form GP 69.
ii) A list of all interviewed applicants in order of merit for the advertised vacancies in
(Appendix (III a);
iii) A copy of the system generated list of all applicants clearly showing those who failed to
attend the interview; (Appendix III b);
iv) List of applicants with disabilities; (Appendix VI);
v) Duly signed Minutes of the Sub-County Selection Panel;
vi) Completed selection score guide duly signed;
vii) Duly completed pay point particulars form
8.0 COMPLAINTS
i) Any applicant who is dissatisfied with the exercise should submit to the TSC County
Director a written complaint immediately and send an email to the TSC Headquarters
through email address: dirstaffing@tsc.go.ke not later than seven (7) days after the
selection process;
ii) The TSC County Director should within seven (7) days analyze and address all complaints
raised after the selection process has been completed and promptly inform the
Headquarters on the action taken;
iii) Where an applicant is dissatisfied with the decision of the TSC County Director in (ii)
above, or where the complaint is made against the TSC County Director, the applicant
shall appeal to the Appeals Committee on staffing functions at the TSC Headquarters.
The Appeals Committee shall investigate the allegations and take appropriate action
within fourteen (14) days.
9.0 IMPORTANT NOTES
i) Clarification and advice on issues of qualifications arising from these guidelines, should be
sought from the TSC County Directors.
ii) Notwithstanding the decentralization of the function of teacher recruitment pursuant to
Section 20 of the TSC Act, the Commission is not precluded in carrying out recruitment
directly from the TSC Headquarters.
iii) The TSC Regional Directors shall:
Ensure guidelines are adhered to within their regions;
a) Coordinate the teacher recruitment process within their respective regions;
b) Sensitize County Directors and oversee the sensitization of other officers including
members of the Selection Panels involved in the process;
c) Shall undertake measures to resolve complaints arising from the process within their
regions.
Attached find the following Appendices for use during the selection exercise
Appendix I: a) Selection Score Guide for Post Primary Institution Teachers
b) Selection Score Guide for Post Primary Institution teachers with disabilities
c) Grading System
Appendix II: Board of Management and TSC Checklists
a: List of interviewed applicants.
b: List of all applicants clearly showing those who never turned up for interview
IV: Declaration Form I
V: Declaration Form II
VI: List of applicants with disabilities
TSC Teacher Recruitment Guidelines for Post-Primary Institutions (Permanent and Pensionable Terms) – 2024/2025.
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