- TSC has begun a nationwide verification of teachers serving in acting administrative roles, including principals, deputies, and headteachers, to guide leadership appointments.
- Many schools rely on acting administrators due to retirements and transfers, but prolonged temporary appointments have raised frustration among teachers over stalled career progression and leadership stability.
- The updated database will inform future deployment and promotions, with teachers hoping the process culminates in substantive appointments during the planned September review.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has rolled out a nationwide verification exercise targeting educators serving in acting administrative roles, a move expected to influence upcoming decisions on school leadership appointments.
Thousands of teachers across the country continue to perform management duties while awaiting confirmation to substantive positions. The verification seeks updated information from those currently acting as principals, deputy principals, headteachers, and deputy headteachers in public schools.
According to the Commission, the data will help establish the exact number of acting administrators and highlight staffing gaps created by retirements, promotions, transfers, and other changes within the education sector.
Many schools have relied on acting administrators following the retirement of experienced leaders, leaving teachers to shoulder additional responsibilities to ensure institutions continue running smoothly. These educators oversee academic programmes, financial management, discipline, staff supervision, and implementation of government policies despite lacking permanent appointments.
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For years, numerous teachers have served under temporary deployment letters assigning them administrative duties without formal confirmation. While these arrangements have kept schools functional, affected teachers have voiced frustration over the prolonged wait for substantive appointments and the uncertainty surrounding career progression.
Education stakeholders have repeatedly urged the Commission to expedite confirmations, warning that prolonged acting appointments undermine motivation and leadership stability. Teacher unions have also pressed for transparent promotion processes and timely filling of vacancies to strengthen management in learning institutions.
The ongoing verification exercise is expected to provide TSC with an updated database of acting administrators and inform future deployment and promotion decisions. Many teachers hope the process will culminate in substantive appointments during the anticipated September review, bringing certainty to thousands who have been leading schools in acting capacities while waiting for official confirmation.
By Kithinji Njeru
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