The TSC is on the brink of collapse as a wave of retirements among its field officers threatens to paralyze services at the sub-county level.
More than 24 Sub-County Directors will retire by end of 2025 but the Commission has no succession plan or recruitment plan to fill the vacancies.
Vacant CSO-SNE Posts Halt Special Needs Support
As of January 2025, over 100 sub-counties had no Curriculum Support Officer for Special Needs Education (CSO-SNE)—a situation that continues to cripple educational support services for learners with disabilities.
The absence of these critical officers has affected:
- Teacher supervision in special needs schools
- Assessment and evaluation of learners
- Coordination of co-curricular activities
- Stakeholder sensitization and community engagement
In the worst-affected areas, activities have stalled with no one to oversee implementation of the Commission’s policies for inclusive education.
Widening Staffing Gaps and Audit Failures
The staffing gap is not limited to SNE. Multiple curriculum support zones across the country have lost officers through retirement or resignation without replacement.
In some cases, the Commission has had to deploy officials from TSC headquarters to conduct emergency audits in the field after internal reports showed inefficiencies and leadership voids in several sub-counties.
Field Officers Discontent
Morale among TSC’s field officers is also low. At the heart of the discontent is delayed promotions, unclear career progression structures and lack of recognition for their role in the education sector.
“We’re overworked, underappreciated and always overlooked during policy making,” said one officer who sought anonymity. “If this continues many of us will leave for other departments that offer better terms.”
Young officers are reportedly looking for opportunities in other government departments due to what they term career stagnation at TSC.
Naivasha Workshop
In what could be a response to the pressure, the Commission has this week convened a workshop in Naivasha for its Directors under the theme: “Transformative Leadership – The TSC Perspective.”
The retreat will address:* Staffing gaps
- Mentorship and coaching
- Promotions
- Field leadership and reorganization
