The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will from February next year issue thousands of promotion letters to teachers following promotion interviews it carried out countrywide in October this year.
TSC also plans to release remaining 980 letters this December for teachers who attended promotion interviews in January and February this year.
A source who spoke on anonymity says funds availability is affecting how promotion letters are released.
The Commission had shortlisted a total of 64,619 teachers who had applied for the 21,313 promotion slots advertised in August.
The promotions covered teachers from job group C1 to D4 which also included the Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs).
The interviews for primary school teacher applicants ran from 6th to 10th October while that for post primary institutions (secondary and TTC), and Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs) which were to run from 13th to 24th October were later rescheduled to 21st October through Thursday, 23rd October following death of former PM Raila Odinga.
However the promotions only favoured aged teachers. TSC only invited aged teachers, a paradigm shift from previous interviews.
In the scoresheet teachers promotions were largely based on age, year of service in current grade and whether one acted as school administrator.
Teachers aged 52 to 56 years scored 25 marks, 47 to 51 years got 20 marks while those aged below 41 years scored 10 marks.
The years a teacher served in current grade was also key in this years promotion.
Those who served for at least seven years in same job group were awarded 30 marks.
Six, five, four and three years scored 25, 20, 15 and 10 marks respectively according to the promotion scoresheet.
However the promotion slots are likely to go up next year after a pledge by President William Ruto who committed to increase the number of teacher promotions from the current 25,000 to 50,000 annually.
While speaking during a State House meeting with teachers, Ruto said his government will increase allocation for teacher promotions from sh 1 billion to sh 2 billion yearly.
TSC declared a total of 14,034 teacher promotions in December 2022, 36,275 in September 2023, 25,633 in 2024 and 21,313 in August 2025 bringing the total promotions to 97,255 since President Ruto’s tenure.
Below is a circular that was issued by TSC to guide the October teacher promotions for both primary and post primary institutions as well CSO’s.
TEACHERS SERVICE COMMISSION
Our Ref: TSC/ADM/192A/VOL.X/63
Date: 11th September 2025
CONDUCTING OF PROMOTIONAL INTERVIEWS FOR TEACHERS AND CURRICULUM SUPPORT OFFICERS (CSOs) IN 2025/2026 FINANCIAL YEAR
The Commission advertised 21,313 Teacher and Curriculum Support Officer promotional posts from Tuesday, 12th August to Monday, 25th August 2025.
Accordingly, applicants have been shortlisted and as a result, you are required to conduct the promotional interviews as outlined below.
The Circular should be read together with Promotional Guidelines for Teachers, Circular No. 8/2025 dated 11th August 2025, available on the Commissions website.
1) Interview Dates
The promotional interviews will be conducted in two (2) phases:
a) Phase 1: Primary School Candidates
1.1 The Interviews shall be conducted from 6th – 10th October, 2025 (5 days)
1.2 Candidates to be interviewed during this period are all shortlisted primary school candidates for all grades. Table 1 gives the list of the adverts.
Table 1: Primary School Teachers Adverts (C2 to D1 grade)
| S/No. | Advert No. | Advert Name | Candidates |
| 1 | 16 & 17/2025 | Senior Headteacher – D1 grade | 6,267 |
| 2 | 21/2025 | Headteacher – C5 grade | 5,483 |
| 3 | 24 & 25/2025 | Deputy Headteacher II- C4 grade | 2,132 |
| 4 | 31 & 32/2025 | Senior Teacher I – C3 grade | 8,850 |
| 5 | 33 & 34/2025 | Senior Teacher II – C2 grade | 24,717 |
| Total | 47,449 |
a) Phase 1: Post Primary Institutions and Curriculum Support Officers
1.3 The interviews shall be conducted from 13th – 24th October, 2025 (10 days)
1.4 Candidates to be interviewed during this period are all shortlisted Post Primary candidates and Curriculum Support Officers for all grades. Table 2 and 3 gives the list of the adverts.
Table 2: Post Primary School Teacher Adverts (C3 to D2 grades – County Level)
| S/No | Advert No. | Advert Name | Candidates |
| 1 | 9, 10 & 11/2025 | Deputy Principal II – D2 grade | 3,179 |
| 2 | 12/2025 | Senior Lecturer I – D2 grade | 66 |
| 3 | 15/2025 | Deputy Principal III – D1 grade | 1,221 |
| 4 | 18/2025 | Senior Lecturer II – D1 grade | 103 |
| 5 | 23/2025 | Senior Master III – C5 grade | 2,968 |
| 6 | 22/2025 | Senior Lecturer III – C5 grade | 61 |
| 7 | 27 & 28/2025 | Senior Master IV – C4 grade | 2,581 |
| 8 | 26/2025 | Senior Lecturer IV – C4 grade | 120 |
| 9 | 30/2025 | Secondary Teacher I – C3 grade | 2,211 |
| Total | 12,510 |
Table 3: Post Primary School Principles and CSOs (C5 to D5 grades – Regional Level)
| S/No. | Advert No. | Advert Name | Candidates |
| 1 | 3 & 4/2025 | Chief Principal – D5 grade | 374 |
| 2 | 5 & 6/2025 | Senior Principal – D4 grade | 3,216 |
| 3 | 7 & 8/2025 | Principal and Principal SNE – D3 grade | 80 |
| 4 | 13/2025 | Senior Curriculum Support Officer – D2 | 68 |
| 5 | 14/2025 | Curriculum Support Officer I – D1 grade | 362 |
| 6 | 19 & 20/2025 | Curriculum Support Officer II – C5 | 560 |
| Total | 4,660 |
2) Interview Dates and Venues
2.1 Phase 1: Interviews for Primary School Candidates
2.1.1 The Interviews for all Primary school candidates listed in Table 1 shall be conducted at the Sub County level under the leadership of the TSC Sub County Director.
2.1.2 The TSC County Director shall share the lists with the TSC Sub County Director. The Sub County Director shall convene the Sub County Interview Panel(s) to prepare the Sub County Interview programme guided by the interview schedules provided.
2.1.3 The TSC Sub County Director in liason with their respective TSC Director, shall invite all shortlisted candidates in writing through letters (templates attached) communicating the following: the date, time and venue of the interview and to inform candidates the documents to present during interviews.
2.1.4 Invitations for interviews to commence from Tuesday, 16th September 2025, to ensure candidates receive at least seven (7) days notice before their interview date.
2.1.5 The TSC Sub County Director in liason with their respective TSC County Directors MUST ensure that venues for the interviews are accessible to candidates with disability.
2.2 Phase 2
a) Interviews for shortlisted Post Primary Candidates for Grades C3 to D2
2.2.1 The interviews for shortlisted applicants for Grades C3 to D2 Post Primary candidates as listed in Table 2 above shall be conducted at the County level through the County Interview Panels under the leadership of the TSC County Director.
2.2.2 The TSC County Director shall convene the County Interview Panel(s) to prepare the County interview programmes guided by the interview schedules provided.
2.2.3 The TSC County Director shall invite all shortlisted candidates in writing through letters (templates attached) communicating the following: the date, time and venue of the interview and to inform candidates the documents to present during interviews.
2.2.4 Invitations for interviews to commence from Tuesday, 16th September, 2025, to ensure candidates receive at least seven (7) days notice before their interview date.
2.2.5 County Director MUST ensure that venues for the interviews are accessible to candidates with disability.
b) Interviews for shortlisted Post Primary Principals and Curriculum Support Officers
2.2.6 The interviews for shortlisted applicants for Grades C5 to D5 Post Primary candidates/CSOs as listed in Table 3 above shall be conducted at the Regional level under the leadership of the TSC Regional Director.
2.2.7 The TSC Regional Director shall prepare the Regional interview programmes guided by the interview schedule provided.
2.2.8 The TSC Regional Director shall invite all shortlisted candidates in writing through letters (templates provided) communicating the following the date, time and venue of the interview and to inform candidates the documents to present during interviews.
2.2.9 Invitations for interviews to commence from Tuesday, 16th September, 2025, to ensure candidates receive at least seven (7) days notice before their interview date.
2.2.10 The Regional Director MUST ensure that venues for the interviews are accessible to candidates with disability.
3. Panel Composition and Roles
a) Panels shall be constituted in line with Circular No. 8/2025 dated 11th August, 2025
b) Detailed roles for Chairperson, Commission Secretary Representative, and Director’s Representative is as follows:
3.1 Chairperson
The Chairperson shall: –
3.1.1 Be in charge of the interview panel.
3.1.2 Assign questioning areas to the panellists
3.1.3 Monitor the interview process.
3.1.4 Ensure that the interview is conducted in an objective and professional way in line with the advert requirements and interview tool.
3.1.5 Ensure confidentiality of interview materials and the interview process.
3.1.6 Ensure correct entry of each candidate’s final score and security of the results.
3.1.7 Ask interview questions to the candidates as guided by the interview tool
3.1.8 Submit the interview results to the Director Staffing on daily basis in soft copy, Advert-by-Advert through an official email provided.
3.1.9 Compile the interview report, sign and submit to the Director – Staffing at the end of the interview period.
3.2 Commission Secretary Representative
The Commission Secretary Representative shall: –
3.2.1 Be the Secretary to the panel taking notes on the proceedings of the interview.
3.2.2 Validate the candidates’ documents and make recommendations to the panel as appropriate.
3-2.4 Ensure correct entry of each candidate’s final score.
3.2.5 Compile the interview report (in consultation with other Members of the team) as per the stipulated guidelines.
3.3 Director’s Representative
The Director’s Representative shall;
3.3.1 Provide support to the Chairperson and Commission Secretary Representative in conducting the interviews.
3.3.2 Assistant to the Commission Secretary’s Representative.
3.3.3 Ask interview questions to the candidates as guided by the interview tool.
3.3.4 Perform any Other duty as assigned by the Chairperson.
Note: The Sub-County Directors shall compile and submit the Sub-County interview results to the respective County Directors who in-turn compile and submit to Director – Staffing in soft copy on daily basis through an official email provided and hard copies at the end of the interview period.
4. Roadmap
The Road map for the teacher promotion exercise is as shown in Table 4
Table 4: Roadmap for Promotion Exercise
| S/No. | Activity | Date/ Duration | Actor(s) |
| 1 | Virtual sensitization of HQ Officers, Regional, County and Sub County Directors | Friday, 12th Sept (1 day) | Director Staffing |
| 2 | Invitation of shortlisted candidates | 16th – 23rd Sept 2025 (8 days) | RD, CD, SCD |
| 3 | Conduct Interviews – Primary schools | 6th – 10th Oct 2025 (5 days) | RD, CD, SCD |
| 4 | Conduct Interviews – Post Primary and CSOs | 13th – 24th Oct 2025 (10 days) | DS, RD, CD & SCD |
| 5 | Submission of Interview materials | 3rd -7th Nov 2025 (5 days) | RD & CD |
Note:
a) Daily validated results shall be emailed to the Director — Staffing by Regional and the County Directors through the email provided.
b) Ensure strict adherence to the timelines (This calls for sacrifice in making maximum use of the limited time).
5. Scoring and Interview Score Guides
5.1 The interview Score guides in the Promotional Guidelines shall be used (Grade specific scoring guides are attached for ease of reference).
5.2 Deployment letters to administrative positions by the Board of Management through the Heads of schools be recognized in awarding marks where applicable.
5.3 Teachers who were earlier dropped from administrative positions be advantaged just as those current serving.
Therefore, their deployment letters should count even though they are no-longer holding administrative positions.
All Officers involved in the interview exercise shall be required to exercise highest degree of confidentiality, integrity and professionalism at all times.
Attached are the list of the shortlisted teachers by Region and the interview schedules to guide the interview process.
E. J. MITEI (MS)
AG. COMMISSION SECRETARY/CEO
