Inside TSC plan to promote 30,000 teachers

TSC Acting CEO Eveleen Mitei. [FILE]

The Teachers Service Commission has signaled the end of the controversial Career Progression Guidelines (CPG).

This is the policy that has for 10 years guided teacher promotions, but also drawn widespread criticism with claims of stagnation, delayed advancement and unfair career progression.

At the same time, the commission has received an additional Sh2 billion allocation in the 2026/2027 financial year for promotions.

TSC officials project that nearly 30,000 teachers could benefit as the first group to be promoted under the new policy.

The guidelines were introduced in 2017 to replace the schemes of service that had long guided the promotion of teachers.

Under the framework, teachers were required to rise through new job groups, but the promotion was tied to availability of administrative positions and budget provision.

However, over time, the policy became one of the most contested issues, with thousands of teachers accusing the commission of creating artificial barriers to promotion.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers have repeatedly faulted the framework, arguing that it locked many teachers in the same grades for nearly a decade.

When TSC Acting Chief Executive Officer Evaleen Mitei appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Education, members accused the commission of failing to address the matter.

“We have a group of teachers who have seriously stagnated 10 years and 11 years,” said committee chairman, Julius Melly.

Melly further directed the TSC to provide data showing how many teachers have not been promoted for over five and 10 years, and those nearing retirement without promotion.

The TSC said it has promoted more than 100,000 teachers in the last four years, although the lawmakers argued the numbers still fall short compared to the scale of dissatisfaction across the country.

According to figures tabled before the committee, TSC promoted 14,728 teachers in the 2022/2023 financial year, 36,504 in 2023/2024, 27,452 in 2024/2025 and 21,383 in the current financial year.

Teachers have also complained that diploma and degree holders often remained in the same grades despite furthering their education, while others nearing retirement never rose beyond entry-level administrative positions.

The criticism intensified following implementation of the Competency Based Curriculum, which significantly expanded teacher workload without corresponding promotions or salary adjustments.

The expected exit of the CPG framework will trigger major reforms within the teaching service, especially in the criteria used for promotions and deployment.

Lawmakers indicated that the committee would work with unions and TSC to develop a more transparent and less punitive promotion structure.

“And this is where many teachers really complain and they get demoralized. But this time, I want us to do it together,” Melly stated.