The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced a major upgrade programme for P1 teachers, aimed at boosting staffing levels in junior schools and improving the quality of education under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
In an internal memo dated August 22, 2025, TSC said the initiative, developed in partnership with the World Bank, will target serving P1 teachers who meet minimum academic qualifications but have not advanced to diploma or degree level.
According to the directive, the programme will cover teachers who scored a mean grade of C+ at KCSE and at least a C+ in two subjects but never pursued higher training, as well as those with a mean grade of C and a C+ in at least two subjects.
The Commission has directed regional directors to urgently compile data on all eligible teachers to guide the rollout of the programme.
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TSC Director of Teacher Professional Management, Dr. Mugwuku Nthamburi, who signed the memo, said the information was urgently needed for planning. He instructed regional directors to submit the data by August 29, 2025.
“This data is urgently required to inform decision-making on the proposed upgrade programme,” Dr. Nthamburi said.
The move is expected to address long-standing staffing gaps in junior schools, which have faced pressure since the introduction of CBC. It will also provide long-awaited career progression opportunities for thousands of P1 teachers who have stagnated in the same job group for years.
The programme is expected to be rolled out once data verification and planning are completed later this year.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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