The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has submitted the names of more than 38,000 primary school teachers to county education offices for the next phase of the P1 World Bank Upgrade Programme, marking a major milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen teacher qualification standards across the country.
According to sources within the education sector, the forwarded list includes teachers who successfully met the eligibility criteria set under the upgrade initiative, which seeks to enhance teacher capacity in line with Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) requirements.
The programme, funded in partnership with the World Bank, aims to help teachers transition from the older P1 qualification to the modernized diploma-level standards expected in Kenyan primary schools.
The county directors of education are now expected to review the lists and issue further guidance on placement, training schedules, and reporting instructions. This step will pave the way for approved teachers to begin structured professional development sessions, which include enhanced pedagogical skills, digital literacy, and classroom management techniques aligned with current national education goals.
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The education experts have welcomed the move, noting that upgrading the skills of teachers is essential for improving learning outcomes, particularly in lower primary classes where foundational competencies are developed.
By forwarding the names to counties, TSC has initiated a decentralised process that will allow county offices to assess local training capacities and ensure equitable distribution of opportunities.
The teacher unions have also expressed optimism, saying the upgrade programme could open new promotion pathways for thousands of educators who have long awaited career advancement.
However, some have called for transparency in the selection criteria to ensure that deserving teachers are not left out.
With the lists now in the hands of county officials, the next steps are expected to unfold over the coming weeks as counties communicate individual instructions to the qualifying teachers.
The World Bank-supported programme is projected to play a transformative role in strengthening the quality of teaching and aligning Kenya’s education workforce with global standards.
By Philip Koech
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