- The Teachers Service Commission has made leadership and management training compulsory for secretariat staff seeking promotion to senior positions.
- Three mandatory in-service programmes will now determine eligibility for advancement to specified grades.
- The Commission says the move is part of implementing the 2023 Career Progression Guidelines and improving performance across the public service.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has introduced mandatory leadership and management training programmes for its secretariat staff, making successful completion of the courses a prerequisite for promotion to senior positions.
In Circular No. 28/2025 dated November 24, 2025, Acting Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Evaleen J. Mitei informed all secretariat staff that the Commission would begin implementing the mandatory in-service programmes following approval by the Cabinet earlier in the year.
The circular states that “The Cabinet, in its sitting of 21st January 2025, approved the re-introduction of mandatory performance improvement in-service programmes for all public officers.”
According to the Commission, three training programmes have been designated as mandatory for officers aspiring to higher responsibilities.
They are:
- Strategic Leadership Development Programme (SLDP)
- Senior Management Course (SMC)
- Supervisory Skills Development Course (SSDC).
The Commission further explains that “The courses are now a requirement for officers seeking promotion to posts above TSC grades six (6), seven (7) and eight (8) respectively.”
To align the new requirement with existing human resource policies, TSC says “The Commission has embedded the requirement in the Career Progression Guidelines (2023) for the Secretariat Staff.”
Under the guidelines, the Strategic Leadership Development Programme applies to officers in TSC Grade 5 and above, the Senior Management Course targets Grade 6 officers, while the Supervisory Skills Development Course is required for Grade 7 officers.
Training to begin in January
The Commission says implementation of the programme will commence on January 1, 2026.
According to the circular, “The Commission will, with effect from 1st January 2026, commence facilitation for its staff to undertake the requisite training.”
The training will be conducted jointly with the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) and delivered at the Kenya School of Government (KSG) on a residential basis.
The circular notes that “The training will be done in collaboration with the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) and will be at the Kenya School of Government on residential basis only.”
While the Commission will facilitate eligible officers, transport expenses will not be paid directly. Instead, “Transport cost will be catered for on a reimbursement basis.”
Seven-step application process
The circular outlines a structured process that officers must follow before being admitted for training.
Applicants will first submit individual applications to the Kenya School of Government before forwarding their admission letters to TSC for consideration. The Commission will then seek course approval from NITA.
Once approval is granted, TSC will facilitate training costs subject to budget availability, after which officers will apply for special leave during the study period and submit certified copies of their certificates upon completion of the course.
The Commission has also directed that applications must be submitted at least 40 days before the commencement of a training programme.
The mandatory courses complement the Commission’s Career Progression Guidelines (2023), which introduced competency-based advancement for secretariat staff.
Earlier, Circular No. 14 of 2025 had granted staff a three-year grace period to acquire job-specific competencies and leadership certifications required for promotion. The latest circular operationalises that requirement by providing a framework through which eligible officers can undertake the prescribed training before seeking promotion.
Background
The Government has increasingly emphasised continuous professional development across the public service as part of wider reforms aimed at improving efficiency, leadership and accountability. In January 2025, the Cabinet approved the reintroduction of mandatory performance improvement programmes for all public officers, paving the way for ministries, departments and agencies to integrate structured training into their promotion frameworks.
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The Kenya School of Government remains the country’s principal institution for training public servants, while the National Industrial Training Authority is responsible for approving and regulating workplace training programmes. TSC says the new initiative will ensure its secretariat staff acquire the leadership, supervisory and management competencies required to support efficient service delivery and career progression within the Commission.
By Joseph Mambili
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