36,000 teachers promoted, TSC boss confirms

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has promoted 36,505 tutors to higher grades, in line with Career Progression Guidelines (CPG).

The teachers have been promoted following interviews that were completed in January, a majority of whom had stagnated in the same job group for years. TSC Secretary Nancy Macharia said that the commission has been allocated Sh 1 Billion in the 2024/25 Financial Year to promote teachers. Some 14,750 teachers were also elevated in the 2022/23 Financial Year

"We have been allocated Sh l billion for promotion in the year 2024/25 so the issue of stagnation in the teaching service will hopefully be over soon because we am getting funding from the Government to promote our teachers," said Macharia.

Macharia explained that previously, TSC was using recurrent expenditure where it would promote teachers to replace those exiting the service.

“This time we are replacing them and also getting extra money, which is good for teachers. TSC is the single largest employer in East and Central Africa and therefore its impact to the education sector and to the country at large cannot be understated,” said Macharia.

TSC invited teachers across various cadres to apply for promotions last year, including chief principal, senior principal, principals, deputy principal, senior lecturer, senior master, secondary teacher I, head teacher, deputy head teacher and senior teacher.

Many of these teachers had stagnated in one position for many years, leading to discontent and low morale in the service

Similarly, through a presidential directive, TSC was urged to promote 333 teachers who had excelled in co-curricula activities last year as well as in academic performance.

From the TSC advertisement, the position of Senior Master IV for job group C4 had the highest vacancies totalling 12,932 followed by Senior Teacher II for regular primary school at 11,519 in grade C2 then Senior Teacher I at 3,386 and in group C3.

TSC was also required to promote 1,930 deputy head teachers for regular schools, who are in job group C4 and 1,928 secondary teacher I for regular schools.

Some 1,142 senior master III for regular schools in job group C5, 1,057 deputy principal III for regular schools in grade D1, 700 senior teacher II for Special Needs Education (SNE) primary school in grade C2, 547 deputy principal II for regular schools and 541 principals for regular schools in grade D3.

Some 34 chief principals in group D5 are also to be promoted, 108 senior principals in D4, 541 principals in grade D3 as well as 619 deputy principal II in D2 and 1,057 deputy principal III in D1.

At least 140 senior master IV in grade C4 from Special Needs Education (SNE) schools, 43 Senior Master II (SNE) in grade D1 and 22 Senior Master I in D2 are also to promoted.

Last year, the Government announced teachers as the biggest beneficiaries of salary rise for civil servants, which was to be backdated to July 1.

Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) announced last August a 7–10 per cent, which was a relief for teachers who have been pushing for a pay raise for two years.

According to the proposed salary increment for teachers after the Government’s proposal, the highest paid teacher in grade D5 was to earn at least Sh173,422.

On that D5 rank, a seven per cent increment would see teachers who take home a basic salary of Sh131,380 rise to a minimum of Sh140,577.

In the event of 10 percent, a teacher whose basic pay was Sh157,657 would get a maximum of Sh173,422.
On the other hand, the lowest paid teacher in grade B5 would see a rise from the current Sh21,756 to a minimum of Sh23,279 if seven per cent was effected and from Sh27,195 to a maximum of Sh29,915 if 10 per cent is implemented.

SRC chairperson Lyn Mengich said the review is about harmonisation to achieve equity and fairness in remuneration and benefits in the public service within the principle of affordability and fiscal sustainability.

“Pursuant to the constitutional principle of affordability and fiscal sustainability, SRC engaged the National Treasury on funding. The National Treasury advised SRC to consider reviewing remuneration structure within a budget allocation of Sh27.7 billion for the year 2023/24,” said Mengich.

Out of the Sh21.7 billion, the teaching service was to receive 44.2 per cent or Sh9.5 billion under the new proposal.