- Teachers in Kericho, Nandi and Kisumu counties fear incomplete TPAD records could cost them crucial marks during upcoming promotion interviews.
- They say some headteachers and deputy headteachers failed to complete countersigning, leaving appraisal records unfinished despite teachers completing their sections.
- The affected teachers are asking TSC to verify the records and ensure administrative omissions do not undermine their promotion chances.
Teachers in Kericho, Nandi and Kisumu counties have raised concerns that incomplete Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) records could disadvantage them in the upcoming promotion exercise scheduled to begin on September 8.
The teachers claim that some of their headteachers and deputy headteachers failed to complete their respective sections of the appraisal process, particularly the countersigning stage, leaving their TPAD records incomplete.
According to the affected teachers, the missing appraisal marks could have a direct impact on their overall scores during the promotion process, potentially putting them at a disadvantage against colleagues whose TPAD records were fully completed.
Under the 2026/27 promotion scoring framework, average TPAD ratings over the previous three years form part of the assessment for shortlisted teachers, with performance management carrying up to 10 marks in applicable promotion scorecards.
Teachers who spoke to Education News said they fear they could score poorly in the appraisal component of the promotion exercise despite having performed their duties and met the required expectations.
“We have done our part, but our appraisals remain incomplete because the administrators did not complete the countersigning process. We are worried that this will affect our promotion scores,” one of the teachers said.
Another teacher said the situation was particularly frustrating because the affected teachers had little control over the final stages of the appraisal process.
Teachers seek TSC intervention before interviews
The teachers are now calling on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to intervene and ensure that no teacher is penalised because of administrative failures beyond their control.
They want the Commission to investigate cases where headteachers and their deputies allegedly failed to complete appraisal requirements and establish a mechanism for correcting incomplete records before the promotion exercise gets underway.
The concerns come as TSC prepares to conduct promotion interviews covering thousands of vacancies across the teaching service. Primary school promotion interviews are scheduled to begin on September 8, while post-primary and Curriculum Support Officer interviews are expected later in the month.
TSC’s current promotion advertisements also require applicants to have obtained a satisfactory rating in the performance appraisal process, underscoring the importance of complete appraisal records in career progression.
Concern could extend beyond three counties
The teachers fear that the problem may not be confined to Kericho, Nandi and Kisumu, saying similar cases of incomplete appraisals could exist elsewhere in the country.
They are calling on TSC to conduct a nationwide audit of TPAD records before the promotion exercise begins to establish whether teachers have been disadvantaged by incomplete appraisals arising from failures by their supervisors.
The teachers also accused some school administrators of being “technophobic,” claiming that difficulties in using digital systems may have contributed to delays or failure to complete TPAD-related tasks.
They argued that administrators entrusted with managing teachers’ performance records should have the necessary digital skills and should not allow technological challenges or negligence to affect teachers’ career progression.
The affected teachers are urging TSC to distinguish between teachers who failed to meet appraisal requirements and those whose records remained incomplete because their administrators did not complete their part of the process.
Time running out ahead of promotion exercise
With the promotion interviews expected to commence on September 8, the teachers say time is running out for the Commission to address the matter.
They want TSC to verify incomplete TPAD records, allow legitimate corrections where necessary and ensure that teachers are not denied promotion opportunities because of omissions by their appraisers.
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For the affected teachers, the issue is straightforward: they should not lose promotion marks for work they completed simply because their headteachers or deputy headteachers failed to complete their part of the appraisal process.
By Mark Otieno Jonyo
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Photo caption: Teachers attend a professional engagement. Teachers in Kericho, Nandi and Kisumu counties are calling on TSC to address incomplete TPAD records ahead of the September promotion interviews.
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