Revised TSC Teacher Promotion Policy to Prioritize Age and Service Length.

Revised TSC Teacher Promotion Policy to Prioritize Age and Service Length

Recognition for Long-Serving Teachers

To address the ongoing problem of career stagnation among teachers, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has established new guidelines for promotions. Numerous educators who have dedicated decades to their profession have reportedly never received any promotions. The Commission now aims to rectify this by recognizing their dedication and years of service.

Promotion Based on Age and Tenure

As stated by Nyanza TSC Regional Director Japhet Kariuki, the updated promotion criteria will focus on the teacher’s length of service and age. He made it clear that these elements would be prioritized only if the teacher in question has maintained a spotless disciplinary record.

Kariuki indicated that the Commission intended to guarantee that no teacher would spend their entire career without being promoted, noting that both age and years of service would now be fundamental to the promotion process.

“We don’t want a teacher to begin their career and retire without receiving a promotion. Age and years of service will now be significant factors to tackle career promotion stagnation,” Kariuki remarked.

He stressed that moving forward, teachers’ discipline records and dedication will serve as the main criteria for promotions, aligning them with the CBC.

Speaking at Migori Stadium during the second day of the Kenya Primary School Headteachers Association (KEPSHA) regional annual general meeting, Kariuki provided details on the reforms being undertaken. These modifications are part of a more extensive effort by the Commission to improve both educational quality and teacher well-being.

Concerns Over Transparency and Equity in Promotions

On Tuesday, Members of Parliament challenged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) about what they described as unjust and ambiguous promotion methods. They expressed concerns over the distribution of 25,252 promotion slots, citing allegations of inequity and political interference in the procedure.

In her appearance before the National Assembly Committee on Education, TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia defended the process. She clarified that the procedure was based in law and decentralized to guarantee fair regional representation. The CEO pointed out that the commission had made opportunities available through interviews at the sub-county level, aiming for fairness and inclusiveness.

Earlier in the year, the promotion slots were allocated following a Sh1 billion allocation from the National Treasury. Included among those promoted were 5,690 teachers who applied after November advertisements and 19,943 who responded to the December call.

Dr. Macharia emphasized that priority had been granted to teachers in acting positions, those who had remained in the same job group for a long time, and senior tutors. Assessment was also conducted based on factors such as Teacher Performance Appraisal ratings and engagement in co-curricular activities.

Legislators Question Fairness and Distribution

Despite TSC’s justifications, MPs voiced their disappointment regarding the promotion exercise’s integrity. Concerns were expressed that some deserving teachers had been consistently overlooked, while others had been promoted multiple times in rapid succession.
Committee Chair Julius Melly considered the uniform distribution across counties to be dubious and not aligned with historical practices. He claimed that it disregarded differences in population and educational needs, questioning how a teacher could attain several promotions while others stayed in the same role for more than a decade.

The committee directed the TSC to deliver detailed documentation regarding the promotion procedure. They required information such as the number of applicants in each sub-county, the criteria for evaluation, and the scoring method employed. Melly mentioned that Jamleck Muturi, the chairperson of the TSC, was anticipated to present complete records demonstrating how merit and fairness were maintained throughout the selection process.

Further criticism arose from Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo, who alleged that the commission had political motivations in uniformly promoting teachers across counties. He argued that while the commission holds the power to promote and reassign teachers, distributing equal slots overlooked whether the initiative was meant for employment or for addressing political interests.

Igembe North MP Julius Taitamu likewise questioned the distribution, asking why teachers from less populated counties were granted the same number of promotion opportunities as their counterparts from more populated areas. Taitamu contended that the distribution did not represent equity and fairness, labeling it as distorted and inequitable.

Revised TSC Teacher Promotion Policy to Prioritize Age and Service Length.