- The Teachers Service Commission will introduce new career progression guidelines from July 2027 to address teacher stagnation.
- Classroom teachers will have an opportunity to progress to the highest grade without becoming school administrators.
- TSC says separate promotion pathways will allow teachers to choose between administration and classroom career progression.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is poised to unveil new career progression guidelines aimed at addressing the perennial concerns over stagnation of teachers in one grade.
TSC Commissioner Timon Oyucho said the 2018 Career Progression Guidelines will no longer be used once the new framework takes effect.
He said the Commission has put in place more progressive career guidelines that will allow teachers to move from the lowest to the highest grades.
Once rolled out, the Commission will advertise senior administrative positions on one hand and positions for classroom teachers seeking promotion to senior grades on the other.
This means teachers will have an opportunity to choose whether to become administrators and compete for the available administrative vacancies or remain classroom teachers and still be competitively promoted to the highest grade.
Oyucho said promotions and career progression will be carried out in a manner that benefits targeted individuals, noting that the old rules limited the progression of teachers beyond certain grades.
Speaking in Seme Constituency during the 2026 Nyanza Region World Teachers’ Day celebrations, Oyucho said the changes are intended to motivate teachers, identify their potential and allow them to progress in their careers.
“This is intended to motivate our teachers, identify the potential in every one of them and promote them all the way to the highest grade,” said Oyucho.
The changes, he said, are expected to ease competition for administrative positions while widening opportunities for teachers who wish to improve their grades but remain classroom instructors.
The commissioner pointed out that the new guidelines, expected to be rolled out in July 2027, will allow classroom teachers to progress to the chief principal grade, the highest level available for administrators, while earning a similar basic salary to their counterparts in administrative positions.
Oyucho said teachers will have the leeway to be promoted without becoming school administrators.
He clarified that a teacher who attains the chief principal grade while remaining in the classroom will retire at the same salary level as one serving as an administrator.
He said other aspects will also be considered when promotions are carried out, adding that TSC will look into teachers’ professional development as aligned with career progression.
Oyucho also said all school heads will be referred to as principals under the new framework.
Teachers recognised for excellence
The event, held at Kit Mikayi in Seme Sub-County, Kisumu County, saw a flurry of activities, with several awards and certificates presented to outstanding teachers.
Oyucho said teachers who excelled in creative activities were among those recognised, adding that such achievements could form part of considerations for career advancement.
Among those recognised under the Early Years Educators Award were Emily Atieno Okulu of Ndere Boys Boarding Primary School in Siaya County, Damaris Akoth Oyugi of Tamu Primary School in Kisumu County and Kenneth Omondi Ochieng of Magacha Primary School in Migori County.
The Lifetime Achievement Awards went to Lawrence Oduor Vitalis of Chemeli Factory in Kisumu County, retired CSO Fransicah Hawala and Fredrick Shikuku Shitumbi of Ken Obura Secondary School in Kisumu County.
Under the School Leadership of Excellence Awards, those recognised included Rollance Oduo Ambala of Kuja Primary School for the Deaf in Migori County, Benjamin Osok Omondi of St Alloyce Ojola Primary School in Kisumu County and Jasper Evance Oketch of Kadika Senior Secondary School in Migori County.
Oyucho said participants had been vetted from the sub-county to the regional level.
He noted that many teachers in the past were not even aware of World Teachers’ Day activities and said the Commission wants celebrations to reach more teachers.
Celebrations to rotate across counties
Oyucho said World Teachers’ Day activities will in future be held in different counties on a rotational basis instead of being concentrated at regional headquarters.
He said each county will be assigned different activities, with the move aimed at encouraging teachers to identify and develop their talents.
“The TSC is taking this event very seriously,” he said.
Oyucho said the message being sent was that the Commission stands with teachers and supports their professional development.
He described the Nyanza event as unique and historic because activities were being held across Kenya’s eight regions, ahead of the national World Teachers’ Day celebration on October 5, 2026.
The event attracted thousands of teachers from across Nyanza Region and was also graced by Benga musician Odhiambo Tusker, who entertained teachers with his popular songs.
Teachers sang along and danced during his performance despite the sweltering heat.
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Also present were regional education officials, representatives of school heads and teachers’ unions, heads of institutions and teachers from across the region.
By Fredrick Odiero and Peter Amos
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