TSC to Elevate C3 Teachers to Deputy Headteachers

TSC to Promote Stagnant C3 Teachers to Administrative Roles.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is poised to launch promotion interviews this week, aiming to fill 19,943 vacancies across various sub-counties. These interviews are scheduled to commence on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, as part of the Commission’s outlined roadmap for promoting educators.

TSC plans to elevate primary school teachers who have remained in job group C3 to the position of deputy headteachers in 2025. The initiative addresses the growing administrative gaps in primary schools, attributed to mass retirements, with more expected by July 2025.

Currently, many schools have teachers in job groups C3 and C4 serving in acting capacities as Heads of Institutions (HOI) and Deputy Heads of Institutions (DHOI). The Commission seeks to confirm these acting roles into permanent appointments.

TSC recently invited shortlisted candidates to collect their invitation letters for the promotion interviews.

The Commission had advertised the 19,943 vacancies—ranging from job group C1 to D4—following the allocation of KSh 1 billion by the Treasury. Applications were made online after the advertisement was published on December 17, 2024.

Candidates from both primary and post-primary institutions were encouraged to apply. Shortlisted teachers are required to present specific documents during the interviews, including their national ID, academic certificates, and Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) ratings for the last three years.

Teachers in acting positions must also provide letters of appointment to these roles.

Mandatory Documents for Post-Promotion

Successful candidates must submit five key documents aligned with Chapter 6 of the Kenyan Constitution, which emphasizes leadership and integrity. These include:

These documents confirm a candidate’s personal integrity, competence, and suitability for public service.

Documents Required for Promotion Interviews

Teachers attending the promotion interviews must present the following:

1. Original Identity Card (ID)
2. Academic certificates (KCSE, PTE, Diploma, and Degree)
3. Appointment letter to the current grade
4. Latest payslip
5. Most recent promotional letter
6. Letter assigning responsibility as HOI/DHOI
7. TPAD reports for 2021, 2022, and 2023
8. Any additional testimonials

Addressing the Leadership Gaps

Data from TSC indicates that over 3,300 school heads and deputies are currently serving in acting capacities.

The Commission intends to confirm and deploy these teachers to their new roles starting January 2025. Presently, 3,359 public schools lack heads of institutions, with 1,918 primary schools without headteachers and 1,441 secondary schools without principals.

The shortage is attributed to the inadequate number of qualified teachers for leadership positions and the increasing number of newly registered schools.

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Teachers have expressed dissatisfaction with TSC’s decision to lower the acting period requirement to six months. Critics argue that this change could facilitate favoritism, enabling undeserving candidates to secure promotions through the backdoor.

A teacher representative noted that while the Commission’s intentions are commendable, the new criteria might undermine the integrity of the promotion process.

Conclusion

The upcoming promotions aim to address long-standing gaps in school leadership and ensure smooth administrative operations. As the interviews begin, TSC emphasizes transparency and adherence to the outlined requirements to foster confidence among educators.

TSC to Promote Stagnant C3 Teachers to Administrative Roles

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