The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced a review of the career guidelines for teacher promotion.
Acting TSC CEO Eveleen Mitei, while speaking during a Kenya Comprehensive School Heads Association (KECSHA) event on Thursday, November 13, revealed that the commission is set to review the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG).
This will allow primary school headteachers to move beyond Job Group D1, thereby creating more promotion opportunities for classroom teachers who are not in administrative roles.
The review aims to address concerns about limited career growth opportunities for teachers who choose to remain in the classroom rather than pursue management positions.
The exercise will be led by Commissioner Sharon Kisire and Commissioner Timon Oyu cho, who have been tasked with spearheading the review process.
Primary school headteachers continue to serve in job group C5 despite their management role in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) where they act as principals in the section that comprises Grades 7, 8 and 9.
Career Progression Guidelines for JSS teachers
In May, TSC had outlined the CPG for JSS teachers, which mirrors those used for secondary school teachers.
The guidelines apply only to teachers employed on permanent and pensionable terms. Under the framework, JSS teachers with a Diploma join the service at Job Group C1, while graduate teachers start at Job Group C2.
Diploma teachers are automatically promoted to C2 after serving for three years, and graduate teachers move to C3 after a similar period. After this stage, both categories remain at their respective job groups until they attend and pass a promotion interview.
From Job Group C4 upwards, positions are classified as administrative, and promotions are competitive. Administrative roles in junior secondary schools include Senior Master, Deputy Principal, and Principal, all of which are recognized and remunerated by the Commission.
According to the TSC grading structure, JSS teachers are categorized under various job grades and groups. A Secondary Teacher III is placed in Grade C1, Job Group F, while a Secondary Teacher II falls under Grade C2, Job Group G. A Secondary Teacher I is classified in Grade C3, Job Group H.
At the administrative level, a Senior Master IV serves under Grade C4, Job Group J, and a Senior Master III under Grade C5, Job Group K. The higher administrative grades include Senior Master II in Grade D1, Job Group L, and Senior Master I in Grade D2, Job Group M.
Deputy principals are graded progressively, with a Deputy Principal IV in Grade C5, Job Group K, Deputy Principal III in Grade D1, Job Group L, Deputy Principal II in Grade D2, Job Group M, and Deputy Principal I in Grade D3, Job Group N.
Principals occupy Grade D3, Job Group N, while Senior Principals are placed in Grade D4, Job Group P. The highest administrative position, Chief Principal, falls under Grade D5, Job Group Q.
TSC promotion guidelines
The review comes after the TSC in August 2025 issued new guidelines for the promotion of teachers in all cadres across the country for the 2025/2026 financial year.
In a circular dated August 11, 2025, addressed to TSC County, regional, and Sub-County directors, the commission said the new guidelines were intended to standardize procedures and criteria for promoting teachers across competitive grades in public educational institutions.
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It stated that identification and allocation of vacancies would depend on budgetary provisions, staff attrition, and the existence of vacancies within the approved establishment.
All promotion vacancies would be advertised through the TSC website, mainstream print media, and other appropriate platforms, with an application window of 14 days from the date of advertisement.
Teachers were required to submit applications online through the designated TSC portal within the specified timeframe. Manual applications were not accepted. Applicants were expected to complete all sections of the online form accurately and confirm successful submission.
Promotion requirements
To be eligible for promotion, a teacher must have served for a minimum of three years in the current grade.
Under Regulation 77 of the Code of Regulations for Teachers (2015), the Commission may decline to consider a teacher for promotion if the teacher has not completed two years from the date of being found guilty through a disciplinary process, or one year from the date of receiving an administrative warning.
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In line with Regulation 78, a teacher re-employed by the Commission must complete at least three years of continuous service before being considered for promotion.
The Commission said candidates would be shortlisted at a ratio of 1:3 for each advertised vacancy, based on eligibility and merit as outlined in the guidelines. The process would observe the principles of fairness, transparency, inclusivity, and non-discrimination.
Interviews would be conducted at Sub-County, County, and regional levels depending on the grade and position.
Shortlisted candidates were to receive at least seven days’ notice before the interview date.
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