The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has established new staffing and accountability norms to ensure efficiency and professionalism in Senior Schools.
The rules will standardise teacher workloads, define recruitment frameworks, and enhance leadership accountability in the Competency-Based Education (CBE) rollout.
The Guidelines for Implementation of Senior School Education, okayed by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, Principal Secretary Amb. (Prof.) Julius K. Bitok and Director General Dr Elyas Abdi outline policy directions for curriculum, governance, infrastructure, and assessment.
According to the guidelines, “staffing norms are the standards developed by TSC from time to time to determine the cadre and number of teachers needed in public learning institutions.”
Each Senior School teacher will handle at least 27 lessons per week in their area of specialisation, ensuring balanced workloads across subjects.
In his foreword, CS Julius Migos Ogamba affirms that “the introduction of Senior School Education under Competency-Based Education marks a significant turning point in the educational process of fully realising the potential of youth in Kenya.” He describes teachers as central to delivering meaningful learning experiences.
The guidelines further direct that administrators — heads, deputies, and senior masters — will have reduced teaching loads to focus on supervision and mentorship. Recruitment, deployment, and promotion of teachers will follow the Career Progression Guidelines (2019) to ensure fairness and transparency.
PS Amb. (Prof.) Julius K. Bitok notes that “the actions recommended here should be viewed as part of the everyday duties and obligations of all participants and service providers in the Basic Education sub-sector.”
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Dr Elyas Abdi acknowledges the ministry’s collaboration with TSC, writing that “the Ministry appreciates the team whose dedication and hard work culminated in the successful development of these guidelines.”
The document further points out that the Curriculum-Based Establishment (CBE) formula will determine the number of teachers assigned to each institution, taking into account subject combinations and class sizes.
Non-teaching staff will also be employed by the Boards of Management (BoMs) to support academic and administrative operations.
The Ministry says TSC will conduct continuous training on pedagogy, competency assessment, and mentorship to align teaching with pathway-specific goals.
The guidelines underscore that “teachers must uphold professionalism, serve as role models, and ensure that learners develop both academic and moral competence.”
By January 2026, all Senior Schools are expected to comply with the staffing structure to guarantee the equitable distribution of qualified teachers nationwide.
By Joseph Mambili
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