TSC gives regulations on lessons sharing by teachers, CBE and staffing in schools: TSC Circular

May 31, 2025 Hillary Kangwana

The Teachers Service Commission, TSC, has set the minimum number of lessons that a secondary and primary school teacher can handle per week. The commission has, at the same time, set the maximum administrative posts per school.

In the TSC Curriculum Based Establishment, CBE, regulations a single streamed school (both primary and secondary) will have one school head/ principal, deputy and senior teacher/ master. A primary school with 10 streams and a maximum of 4,000 learners shall have one head teacher, 2 deputies and 8 senior teachers.

A secondary school with 12 streams and a maximum of 2,100 students will have one principal, 2 deputies and 9 senior masters. The minimum workload of a primary school teacher will be 35 lessons per week while a secondary school teacher will handle a minimum of 27 lessons per week.

The maximum class size will be 50 and 45 learners for primary and secondary schools respectively. Where there are 2 deputy deputies, one shall be in charge of academics while, the other taking charge of administrative responsibilities.

ADMINISTRATIVE POSTS IN SCHOOLS

Here is an elaborate description of all administrative posts in schools;

A). PRINCIPALS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS

The secondary schools have been stratified and principals heading the various categories are placed in different grades, thus;

Principals of Sub- County and All Day schools:

To be appointed so as to head this category of schools, one must have served as a Deputy Principal (Grade D2) for atleast 3 years. These schools are headed by a Principal having Grade 3 (T- Scale 13).

County Schools with with over 540 students:

These schools are headed by Senior Principals, Grade D4 (T- Scale 14). To be appointed to this grade, a teacher must have served as a Principal at Grade D3 for a minimum period of three (3) years.

National and Extra County Schools with over 1000 students:

Headed by a Chief Principal of Grade D5 (T- Scale 15). To be appointed to this grade, one must first serve for atleast 3 years at a Senior Principal; Grade D4.

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B). DEPUTY PRINCIPALS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

Sub- County and All Day schools:

Deputy Principal III of Grade D1 (T- Scale 11). To ascend to this position you must first serve as a Senior Master at Grade C5 for a minimum period of three (3) years.

County Schools with with over 540 students:

Deputy Principal II of Grade D2 (T- Scale 12). To be appointed to this grade one must have served as a Deputy Principal at D1 for atleast three (3) years.

National and Extra County Schools with over 1000 students:

Deputy Principal I; Grade D3 (T- Scale 13). To be promoted to this grade one must first serve as a Deputy Principal at D2 for atleast three (3) years.

C). SENIOR MASTERS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

Sub- County and All Day schools:

Senior Master III of Grade C5 (T- Scale 10). To be promoted to this grade one must serve as a teacher at Grade C4 for over three (3) years.

County Schools with with over 540 students:

Senior Master II with Grade D1 (T- Scale 11). To ascend to this position, a teacher must have served as a Senior Master III of Grade C5 (T- Scale 10) for a minimum period of three years.

National and Extra County Schools with over 1000 students:

Senior Master I with a qualification of Grade D2 (T- Scale 12). To ascend to this position, a teacher must have served as a Senior Master II with Grade D1 (T- Scale 11) for a minimum period of three years.

D). HEAD TEACHERS OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

Primary schools with enrollment of below 1000 learners:

Head Teacher with Grade C5 (T- Scale 10). To be appointed to this grade a teacher must have served as a Deputy Head Teacher at Grade C4 for atleast three (3) years.

Primary schools with enrollment of over 1000 learners:

Senior Head Teacher with Grade D1 (T- Scale 11). To be appointed to this grade a teacher must have served as a Head Teacher at Grade C5 for atleast three (3) years.

E). DEPUTY HEAD TEACHERS OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

Primary schools with enrollment of below 1000 learners:

Deputy Head Teacher II Grade C4 (T- Scale 9). Experience required: Served as Senior Teacher at Grade C3 for atleast 3 Years.

Primary schools with enrollment of over 1000 learners:

Deputy Head Teacher I at Grade C5 (T- Scale 10). Required experience: Served as Deputy Head Teacher at Grade C4 for atleast three (3) years.

F). SENIOR TEACHER- PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

Primary schools with enrollment of below 1000 learners:

Senior Teacher II with Grade C2. Qualification: Served as a Primary School Teacher I at Grade C1 for atleast three (3) years.

Primary schools with enrollment of over 1000 learners:

Senior Teacher I with Grade C3. Required experience: Served as Senior Teacher II at Grade C2 for a minimum period of three (3) years.

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STAFFING LEVELS/ NUMBERS OF ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS.

The number of administrative positions is pegged on the respective school’s curriculum Based Establishment (CBE). The number of learners influence the number of administrative positions in the respective schools.

Where a school has two deputies; one shall be in charge of Academics and the other Administration. For Special Needs Education (SNE) schools; there shall be a minimum of five (5) senior teachers (primary) and Masters (For secondary schools). This is irrespective of the size and enrollment/ students’ population.

A). DEPUTY PRINCIPALS AND SENIOR MASTERS/ MISTRESSES OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS AS PER CURRICULUM BASED ESTABLISHMENT, CBE.

The table below provides the numbers of administrative positions in Secondary Schools( Deputy Principals and Senior Masters/ Mistresses) as established by TSC.

B). DEPUTY HEAD TEACHERS AND SENIOR TEACHERS OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS

The table below provides the numbers of administrative positions in Primary Schools (deputy head teachers and Senior teachers) as established by TSC.

A LIST OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS FOR SCHOOLS.

The Commission has, also, given a list of the administrative positions per school category.

I). POSITIONS OF SENIOR TEACHERS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

The following Senior teachers’ positions have been established for all primary schools:

Social Studies
Science and Mathematics
Languages
Boarding
Co- curriculum activities
Guidance and Counseling/ Careers
Quality Assurance and Standards, QAS
Academic/ Mentor-ship.

II). POSITIONS OF SENIOR TEACHERS IN SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Here are the Senior Teachers’ positions in Special Needs Education, SNE, primary schools:

Technical and Creative Arts
Boarding
Co- Curriculum Activities
Guidance and Counseling/ Careers
Quality Assurance and Standards, QAS
Academic/ Mentorship.

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