The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has directed headteachers with more teachers than required to release some of them to schools facing staffing shortages as part of efforts to ensure a fair distribution of teaching personnel across the country.
TSC Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Evaleen Mitei said the Commission expects school administrators to cooperate in addressing disparities in teacher distribution to ensure institutions have adequate staff to support effective learning.
Speaking in Mombasa during the annual conference and general meeting of the Kenya Comprehensive School Heads Association (KECSHA), Dr Mitei also urged school heads to ensure schools reopen on schedule next year.
She warned that administrators who fail to maintain accurate records of teachers joining or leaving their institutions would be held personally responsible in accordance with existing regulations.
The TSC Acting CEO further disclosed that the Commission was considering the promotion of 30,034 teachers, with interviews expected to be conducted soon.
She said the Commission was also working with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to complete a job evaluation exercise in preparation for the 2026 Career Progression Guidelines (CPG).
Dr Mitei said improving the quality of education required investment in teachers through professional development, motivation and adherence to ethical standards.
Recruitment and teacher development
TSC Chairman Dr Jamleck Muturi said the Commission was implementing recruitment and deployment programmes to address staffing gaps while strengthening teachers' capacity to deliver the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum.
He said ongoing training programmes, particularly for Junior School teachers, were focusing on curriculum design, learner assessment, classroom management, digital literacy and inclusive education.
Muturi challenged school heads to protect instructional time and provide learners with opportunities to participate in sports, creative activities, clubs and community programmes.
KECSHA National Chairman Fuad Ali called on the Commission to increase teacher recruitment beyond the current 26,000 positions, arguing that additional staffing and promotions were necessary to improve service delivery and boost teachers' morale.
KNUT opposes Junior School autonomy
Meanwhile, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General Collins Oyuu called for better terms and conditions of service for teachers.
Oyuu also opposed proposals to make Junior Secondary Schools independent institutions, insisting that they should remain part of the comprehensive school structure under a single administration.
He maintained that teachers and school administrators must be consulted before major decisions affecting the education sector are implemented.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the county had increased enrolment in Early Childhood Development Education centres from 8,000 to 13,000 children, with 15 additional institutions under construction.
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