- TSC has released scoring guidelines that award interns who have served 12 months or more continuously 70 marks toward their interview score.
- TSC has advertised 20,000 post-primary teaching vacancies alongside 34,016 promotion opportunities, bringing total advertised positions to 54,016.
- The commission has set tie-breaker criteria that prioritise candidates with the longest length of stay since graduation.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has released interview scoring guidelines for its ongoing recruitment of 20,000 post-primary teachers, with the criteria giving a significant advantage to applicants who have served longest as interns.
Under the guidelines, signed by TSC acting Chief Executive Officer Evaleen Mitei, applicants who have served continuously as TSC interns for 12 months or more in the same sub-county will be automatically awarded 70 marks for their experience and service. Those who have served as interns for less than 12 months will receive 50 marks.
The scoring framework is divided into four categories, which together add up to a maximum of 100 marks determining candidates’ overall scores during the recruitment and selection process.
Length of time since graduation accounts for a maximum of 20 marks. Teachers who qualified in 2010 or earlier will receive the full 20 marks, with the score decreasing by one mark for every subsequent year. A 2011 graduate earns 19 marks, a 2012 graduate 18 marks, a 2013 graduate 17 marks, and so on, with teachers who qualified in 2026 receiving four marks
TSC clarified that the qualifying year used for this calculation is the year an applicant satisfactorily met the commission’s requirements to become a teacher, not necessarily the year printed on their certificate.
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Age carries a maximum of seven marks. Applicants aged 50 years and above will receive seven marks, those aged 45 to 49 will receive five marks, while those aged 44 years and below will receive three marks.
For academic and professional qualifications, worth a maximum of three marks, candidates with a First Class Honours or Distinction will earn three marks, Second Class or Credit holders will earn two marks, and those with a Pass will earn one mark.
TSC advertised the 20,000 post-primary teaching vacancies on July 28, 2026, as part of a nationwide recruitment drive aimed at strengthening staffing levels in junior schools. Alongside the recruitment, the commission also announced 34,016 promotion opportunities for serving teachers, bringing the total number of advertised positions to 54,016.
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In the event of a tie in candidates’ aggregate scores, the Selection Panel will apply a set of preference criteria to determine priority, with the candidate who has the longest length of stay since graduation given first consideration.
The scoring system means that teachers who have served on internship contracts for extended periods, as well as those who graduated many years ago, are positioned to score more favourably during the interview process compared to more recent graduates without internship experience.
By Masaki Enock
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