TSC to Advertise 19,000 Promotion Vacancies for Teachers, says Nancy Macharia.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) CEO, Dr. Nancy Macharia, has announced that at least 19,000 promotion vacancies will be made available for classroom teachers.
She made the statement during the 64th Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) at Sheikh Zayed Hall in Mombasa. Macharia urged teachers to apply once the vacancies are officially advertised.
The event saw the presence of several key Knut officials, including Secretary General Collins Oyuu, Chairman Patrick Karinga, and Vice Chairmen Malel Lagat and Aggrey Namisi.
Other notable attendees included Knut National Treasurer Muuo Ndiku and Kenya Primary School Heads Association (Kepsha) representative Johnson Nzioka.
The conference attracted over 2,000 delegates from 110 Knut branches across the country. Additionally, Moses Masika was elected to the National Executive Council (NEC) for the Western Region, marking a significant moment in the event.
Masika currently serves as the Executive Secretary for the Bungoma West branch and the Regional Secretary for Bungoma County.
Promotion Vacancies and Current Status
The TSC has already advertised 5,690 promotion slots targeted at school administrators, with a deadline for applications set for November 18, 2024.
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Applicants who met the necessary qualifications submitted their applications online, and the commission has yet to shortlist candidates for promotion interviews.
| S/No | Advert No. | Advert Name | T-Scale | Grade | Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 01/2024 | Principal (Post Primary) | 13 | D3 | 755 |
| 2 | 02/2024 | Deputy Principal III (Post Primary) | 11 | D1 | 816 |
| 3 | 03/2024 | Head-Teacher (Primary) | 10 | C5 | 1,208 |
| 4 | 04/2024 | Deputy Head-Teacher II (Primary) | 9 | C4 | 2,911 |
| TOTAL | 5,690 |
TSC indicated that deputy headteachers and deputy principals, along with senior staff who have acted as heads of institutions (HOIs) or deputies for at least six months, will be confirmed and promoted to new positions.
Currently, about 3,300 school heads and deputies are serving in acting roles. TSC plans to begin confirming these staff members and assigning them permanent roles starting in January, with support from the Sh1 billion allocated for teacher promotions.
Addressing Teacher Shortages and Acting Roles
Data from TSC reveals that 3,359 public schools are currently without a head of institution, with 1,918 primary schools and 1,441 secondary schools lacking principals.
TSC attributes this shortage to a lack of qualified teachers for leadership positions and the continued establishment of new schools.
The commission intends to use the Sh1 billion allocated by the government to fill these critical administrative roles in both primary and secondary schools.
Knut Secretary-General Collins Oyuu voiced concern over the prolonged acting periods many teachers have faced, with some serving in acting capacities for more than three years. Oyuu emphasized that these educators should be prioritized for permanent appointments.
A week-long meeting in Naivasha between TSC and Knut led to an agreement to address the leadership crisis in the 3,359 schools lacking permanent heads. Initially, TSC had proposed offering special duty allowances to acting school heads and deputies to compensate for their additional responsibilities.
However, the latest discussions indicate that the priority will be to make substantive appointments rather than providing allowances.
Dr. Nancy Macharia, speaking before Parliament, explained that acting appointments were often made due to a shortage of qualified teachers who possess the necessary grade and experience for substantive roles.
She also noted that while the government has been establishing new schools, there has been no corresponding budget for promoting teachers to lead these institutions, leading TSC to rely on acting school heads.
Criticism of the 2017 Career Progression Guidelines
Union leaders have criticized the 2017 Career Progression Guidelines (CPGs) for hindering teacher promotions. KUPPET Chairman Omboko Milemba specifically singled out the guidelines as a major obstacle for experienced teachers aspiring to move into leadership roles.
Many teachers, despite their experience, have been unable to qualify for deputy headteacher roles, resulting in long waiting periods for job group advancements.
Oyuu echoed these concerns, highlighting the frustration of many experienced teachers who have been stuck in their current roles for years.
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He pointed out that despite many senior teachers becoming eligible for promotion by 2017, they remain unqualified for positions such as deputy headteachers and must wait years to advance to a job group that aligns with these roles.
This ongoing stagnation in teacher promotions has prompted unions to continue lobbying for reforms to the system.
TSC to Advertise 19,000 Promotion Vacancies for Teachers, says Nancy Macharia
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