TSC Starts Inviting Teachers for Promotion Interviews Nationwide

Teachers in Kenya have started receiving invitation messages from the Teachers Service Commission inviting them for interviews for promotions. The commission, which has scheduled the interviews to start next week, is seeking to fill 19,943 promotional positions that it recently advertised.

Details of the Invitation to the Interviews

The invitation messages sent by TSC include specific instructions for the interviewees. The sample message reads:

*”You are hereby invited for a promotional interview on 15/01/2025 at 8:00 am at the TSC Subcounty office, *********. Bring along; 1) Original ID 2) Original academic certificates 3) Letter of appointment to current grade or Latest payslip or Last promotional letter 4) Letter assigning responsibility of HOI/DHOI 5) Performance appraisal reports for 2021, 2022, 2023 6) Any other testimonials.”

These interviews will kick-start soon after the announcement of the 2024 KCSE results scheduled for release on 13th January 2024 at KNEC’s Mtihani House in Nairobi.

Promotional Vacancies and Requirements

The Treasury’s allocation of Ksh 1 billion has seen TSC open 19,943 promotion slots in various job groups, from C1 to D4. Initially, the commission advertised these vacancies on 17th December 2024, inviting interested candidates to submit applications online through the commission’s website by 30th December 2024.

Applicants who had earlier submitted their applications under advertisements 1 to 4 of 2024, which ran from 12th to 18th November 2024, were also advised to reapply.

Documents to Present at the Interview

Applicants who will be shortlisted for interview will be required to present the following documents:

1. National Identity Card (ID)
2. Academic certificates
3. Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) reports for 2021, 2022, and 2023
4. Letters of appointment and promotion
5. Letters confirming acting roles, where applicable
6. Disability membership cards for candidates with disabilities

The following compulsory documents and those relating to Chapter 6 of the Kenyan Constitution on Leadership and Integrity shall be required upon appointment for the successful candidates before appointment to the new position is made:

1. Certificate of Good Conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)
2. Clearance Certificate from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
3. Tax Compliance Certificate from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)
4. Clearance from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC)
5. Clearance Certificate from an approved Credit Reference Bureau (CRB)

Concerns Raised by Teachers

Though the promotion exercise is well received by many, some teachers feel discontent with TSC’s decision to reduce the duration required for acting roles to six months. Critics claim the move could open the way for favoritism and unjustified promotions.

Currently, at least 3,300 school heads and deputies are acting. The commission intends to have them substantively appointed starting from January 2025. According to the data, some 3,359 public schools do not have a head of institution, with 1,918 primary schools without headteachers and 1,441 secondary schools without principals.

Vacancies by Job Group and Scale

The promotional vacancies declared by TSC in 2024 are categorized as follows:

1. Chief Principal – Regular School, T-Scale 15, D5-44 Posts
2. Chief Principal – TTC, T-Scale 15, Grade D5, 3 posts
3. Senior Principal – Regular School, T-Scale 14, Grade D4, 126 posts
4. Senior Principal – TTC, T-Scale 14, Grade D4, 3 posts
5. Principal – Regular School, T-Scale 13, Grade D3, 652 posts
6. Deputy Principal I – TTC, T-Scale 13, Grade D3, 3 posts
7. Deputy Principal II – Secondary School, T-Scale 12, Grade D2, 786 posts
8. Senior Lecturer I (TTC) – T-Scale 12, Grade D2, 13 posts
9. Deputy Principal III (Regular School) – T-Scale 11, Grade D1, 1,408 posts
10. Senior Lecturer II (TTC) – T-Scale 11, Grade D1, 32 posts
11. Senior Master II (Secondary SNE) – T-Scale 11, Grade D1, 2 posts
12. Senior Master III (Regular School) – T-Scale 10, Grade C5, 1,987 posts
13. Senior Lecturer III (TTC) – T-Scale 10, Grade C5, 61 posts
14. Senior Master III Secondary SNE) – T-Scale 10, Grade C5, 6 Posts
15. Senior Master IV – T-Scale 9, Grade C4, 2,221 Posts
16. Senior Lecturer IV TTC) – T-Scale 9, Grade C4, 70 Posts
17. Secondary Teacher I (Diploma teachers only) – T-Scale 8, Grade C3, 184 Posts
18. Lecturer I – T-Scale 8, Grade C3, 7 Posts
19. Senior Headteacher Regular) – T-Scale 11, Grade D1, 254 Posts
20. Senior Headteacher SNE) – T-Scale 11, Grade D1, 7 Posts
21. Headteacher (Regular School) – T-Scale 10, Grade C5, 2,130 vacancies
22. Headteacher (SNE Primary School) – T-Scale 10, Grade C5, 33 vacancies
23. Deputy Headteacher II (Regular Primary School) – T-Scale 9, Grade C4, 3,653 vacancies
24. Deputy Headteacher II (SNE) – T-Scale 9, Grade C4, 33 vacancies
25. Senior Teacher I (Regular Primary School) – T-Scale 8, Grade C3, 4,703 vacancies
26. Senior Teacher I (SNE Primary School) – T-Scale 8, Grade C3, 77 vacancies
27. Senior Teacher II Primary School – T-Scale 7, Grade C2, 1,364 posts
28. Senior Teacher II, SNE Primary – T-Scale 7, Grade C2, 81 posts

The Commission is determined to ensure a forward trajectory in its efforts to curb the shortage of qualified school heads in both primary and secondary schools.