A transformative wave is set to sweep across the teaching profession in Kenya as the Teacher Service Commission (TSC) launches promotion interviews for 36,505 teachers who have long awaited their career progression.
The visionary Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Macharia, made this announcement at the Kenya Primary School Head Teachers Association (Kepsha) annual conference in Mombasa.
Addressing the teachers, Macharia emphasized the urgency of applying for promotions, lamenting the historical low turnout in previous exercises.
Despite the Commission’s efforts to lower requirements, the response has been tepid.
However, she assured potential candidates that a substantial budget of Sh1 billion is allocated for this promotion cycle.
A significant proportion of those awaiting promotion—17,914 teachers—are currently serving in primary schools.
Shockingly, some teachers have found themselves in the same job group for an astonishing decade.
Macharia, recognizing the stagnation issue, urged teachers not to shy away from additional responsibilities that might come with promotions.
Interestingly, the TSC CEO highlighted the challenges in attracting applications for 1,123 advertised vacancies across various regions, including Coast, Rift Valley, North Eastern, Eastern, and Central Kenya.
Despite a growing pool of unemployed teachers, these opportunities remain untapped.
Macharia strongly urged teachers to broaden their job search horizons, encouraging them to apply for positions beyond their home counties.
In the Rift Valley, for instance, 45 slots out of 17,393 advertised positions have not found takers.
The situation is mirrored in North Eastern, where 795 out of 2,126 vacancies remain unfilled.
The coastal region, with 4,607 advertised positions, has 177 vacancies still awaiting the right candidates.
The Central region, too, has its share of unclaimed opportunities, with 34 vacancies in Murang’a and Nyeri combined.
However, the reluctance of teachers to venture into certain regions, particularly Rift Valley and North Eastern, has been linked to security concerns, according to headteachers interviewed on the matter.
On the brighter side, all vacancies advertised for Nyanza and Nairobi have been successfully filled.
Acknowledging the government’s pivotal role, Macharia expressed gratitude for allocating funds that facilitated the recruitment of 56,000 teachers in a single year.
A significant number of these educators will be deployed to Junior Secondary Schools, aligning with ongoing educational reforms.
In the spirit of embracing these reforms, TSC has invested in the continuous training and retooling of teachers.
Macharia proudly announced that over 229,000 primary school teachers have been retooled, with an additional 56,928 teachers trained, including newly recruited Junior School teachers and those transitioning from primary to Junior Secondary schools.
A noteworthy aspect of TSC’s modernization is its transition to an IT-compliant system, streamlining processes and making recruitment more accessible.
The implementation of an online recruitment model has not only enhanced efficiency but has also eliminated the need for teachers to physically submit applications to county offices or secondary schools.
The digital transformation extends to the automation of teachers’ payslips, marking a significant leap towards accountability and convenience.
Macharia detailed the automated processes encompassing leave management, recruitment, transfer processing, pension claims, discipline, appraisal, training and development, and benefits and promotion.
In her closing remarks, Macharia reassured headteachers of their competence in navigating the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) system to Grade 8, expressing confidence in their qualifications to lead comprehensive schools combining primary and Junior Secondary School levels.
The promotion interviews represent not just a career milestone for thousands of educators but also a testament to TSC’s commitment to fostering growth and excellence within the teaching profession.
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Mr. Weldon Kosgei, a dedicated educator with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in Kenya, brings years of experience and a deep love for education to his role at TSCNewsToday.co.ke. He provides insightful and timely updates on TSC policies, educational trends, and best practices, making his articles valuable resources for educators and administrators. Mr. Kosgei’s commitment to enhancing education shines through in his writing, connecting and inspiring the teaching community across Kenya.
