The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced the re-introduction and mandatory requirement of performance improvement in-service training programs for all its Secretariat staff, tying the completion of these courses directly to career progression and promotions.
This directive follows a Cabinet decision made on January 21, 2025, which approved the resumption of mandatory performance improvement training for all public officers.
According to a TSC circular number 28/2025 signed by the TSC acting CEO Eveleen Mitei addressed to all secretariat staff, the mandatory training programmes are the Strategic Leadership Development Program (SLDP), the Senior Management Course (SMC), and the Supervisory Skills Development Course (SSDC). These courses are now requirements for officers seeking promotion to posts above TSC grades six (6), seven (7), and eight (8) respectively.
This directive comes after Circular No. 14/2025, which provided a grace period of three (3) years for staff to acquire job-specific requirements, including competencies and leadership/proficiency certification, for qualification to the next job grade.
The Commission has embedded this requirement into the Career Progression Guidelines (2023) for the Secretariat Staff.
The Strategic Leadership Development Program (SLDP) is required for TSC Grade 5 and above, the Senior Management Course (SMC) is required for TSC Grade 6, and the Supervisory Skills Development Course (SSDC) is required for TSC Grade 7.
The Commission is set to commence facilitation for its staff to undertake the requisite training from January 1, 2026. This training will be conducted on a residential basis only, in collaboration with the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), and will take place at the Kenya School of Government (KSG). Transport costs for staff attending the training will be catered for on a reimbursement basis.
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Staff seeking to enroll in these programs must follow a defined application procedure: they must submit an individual application to the Kenya School of Government (KSG) and subsequently submit the admission letter from KSG to the Commission Secretary for consideration.
The Commission will then submit an application to NITA for approval of the course. Should NITA grant approval, the Commission shall commit to facilitating the training costs, subject to budget availability.
Applicants must also submit an application for special leave for the study period and a certified copy of the certificate upon completion of the course.
Staff are advised to submit their applications at least forty (40) days before the commencement of a training programme.
This new directive comes after Circular No. 14/2025, which provided a grace period of three (3) years for staff to acquire job-specific requirements, including competencies and leadership/proficiency certification, for qualification to the next job grade.
By Masaki Enock
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