The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced the promotion of 25,252 teachers, a move that has ignited a heated debate over fairness and transparency in the selection process. The announcement comes just a day before the commission is set to appear before Parliament to address concerns surrounding teacher promotions.
The Departmental Committee on Education of the National Assembly has summoned TSC Chief Executive Nancy Macharia to explain the criteria used, following growing dissatisfaction from various stakeholders. School principals, along with the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association, have criticized the promotions, claiming the process is biased and unfair to certain teachers.
One of the key complaints revolves around the allocation system, which some argue fails to consider disparities in teacher populations across regions. The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), through its acting secretary-general Moses Nthurima, has strongly opposed the process and demanded its withdrawal. KUPPET argues that the promotion system disadvantages educators in densely populated areas, exacerbating existing inequalities.
The TSC had advertised 6,590 vacancies in November 2024 and an additional 19,943 positions in December. However, only 25,252 teachers were promoted, leaving 381 vacancies unfilled. The commission had initially requested KSh 2 billion for promotions but was allocated KSh 1 billion, potentially contributing to the shortfall.
The uproar over teacher promotions adds to existing grievances that led to KUPPET’s call for a nationwide teachers’ strike in August 2024. The union argues that the TSC must adopt a more inclusive and transparent system to ensure equitable opportunities for all educators.
As Parliament prepares to question the TSC leadership, teachers across the country are watching closely, eager to see whether their concerns will be addressed or if they will have to take further action to demand justice.