- KUSNET has welcomed the proposed 2026 Career Progression Guidelines, describing them as a major breakthrough for Special Needs Education teachers.
- The revised framework introduces clearer promotion pathways and incorporates KISE lecturers, KIB lecturers and SNE Curriculum Support Officers.
- The union says the reforms could significantly improve career growth, motivation and professional recognition across the sector.
The Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) has welcomed the revised 2026 Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), describing them as a major breakthrough in addressing long-standing concerns affecting Special Needs Education (SNE) teachers across the country.
In a circular dated June 19, 2026, and signed by Secretary-General James Torome, the union announced that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) had agreed to address shortcomings identified in the 2018 Career Progression Guidelines.
The revised framework is expected to create clearer promotion pathways and enhance career growth opportunities for teachers serving learners with special needs.
According to the union, lecturers at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) and the Kenya Institute for the Blind (KIB) have been incorporated into the new career structure.
Curriculum Support Officers specializing in Special Needs Education have also been included in the revised progression framework.
The proposed structure introduces a unified career ladder for SNE teachers, running from Teacher 9, the entry level, to Teacher 1, the highest professional rank.
KUSNET says the new model will allow teachers to advance either through classroom teaching or school administration without necessarily leaving the teaching profession.
Under the proposal, classroom teachers will be able to rise through the ranks up to Teacher 1, while those pursuing administrative roles will progress to positions equivalent to Chief Principal or Director.
Teachers will also have the flexibility to move between administrative and classroom-based roles without losing career progression opportunities.
The announcement comes at a time when TSC is undertaking a nationwide review of its Career Progression Guidelines aimed at addressing teacher stagnation and creating merit-based promotion pathways.
The commission has been engaging stakeholders, including KNUT, KUPPET, KUSNET, Curriculum Support Officers and school administrators, in consultations on the proposed reforms.
Focus on competence and performance
Recent proposals by TSC indicate that the revised framework could reduce the time teachers take to reach the highest professional levels.
The reforms are also expected to introduce a structured promotion system based on competence, performance, qualifications and experience rather than vacancies alone.
KUSNET has urged all Special Needs Education teachers to actively participate in the ongoing consultations and submit their views during the job evaluation exercise being conducted by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
The revised CPG 2026 proposals have now been forwarded to the SRC for job evaluation, a process expected to determine the salary structures and benefits attached to the proposed career grades.
READ ALSO: Why Senator Okenyuri wears school uniforms to school functions
If approved and implemented, the reforms are expected to significantly improve career progression, motivation and professional recognition for thousands of Special Needs Education teachers across Kenya.
By Jeff Kirui
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
