Headteachers to stay in C5 as TSC cites lack of funds for D1 Promotion.
Primary school headteachers will continue to serve in Job Group C5, even as they oversee the management of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) within their institutions. This decision was confirmed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, who attributed the stagnation to lack of adequate funding.
The headteachers currently act as principals in the JSS section, which includes Grades 7, 8, and 9. Despite taking on expanded responsibilities, they will not receive promotions or salary enhancements reflective of their duties.
In January, the TSC extended the headteachers’ contracts to serve in JSS until December 31, 2025. Through their association, the Kenya Primary School Headteachers Association (KEPSHA), the headteachers had demanded better remuneration aligned with the added responsibility of managing junior secondary schools housed in primary institutions.
They had pushed for elevation from their current C5 grade to D1 and eventually to D5 in accordance with the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), similar to secondary school principals.
TSC: No Promotion Without a New CBA
In November 2024, former TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia addressed the matter during the KEPSHA conference in Mombasa. She emphasized that promoting headteachers or reviewing their salaries could not be done without a formal Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
She stated that issues related to additional responsibilities arising from the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), such as JSS management, touched on the terms and conditions of service and should be presented by unions in the upcoming CBA 2025–2029. The unions had already submitted a memorandum outlining expectations for the next agreement.
Despite the ongoing push for promotions, CS Ogamba last week ruled out any possibility of upgrading headteachers to grade D1 in recognition of their increased workload. He stated that their employment terms would remain governed by the 2021–2025 CBA signed between TSC and teacher unions.
He gave these remarks after holding consultations with top TSC officials before appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
The headteachers had also requested compensation for the period they have been acting as JSS managers. The late Johnson Nzioka, former KEPSHA chairman, had previously expressed concerns over the government’s failure to adjust their pay despite the additional duties.
He noted that teachers were facing immense pressure due to increased student enrollment and insufficient staffing, with some teachers leaving through natural attrition.
Read Also: Nancy Macharia Officially Exit TSC
Government Prioritizes Recruitment, Not Promotions
CS Ogamba indicated that the government’s primary focus is on hiring more teachers to address staffing shortages in schools. He reported that 343,485 trained teachers remain unemployed and defended the teacher internship programme as a bridge between training and employment.
Since its inception in 2019, the TSC has engaged 94,300 interns through the initiative. The CS added that both the Ministry of Education and TSC annually present budget proposals and policy suggestions to the National Assembly Education Committee, advocating for increased funding and legislative support to enable effective teacher recruitment.
Headteachers to stay in C5 as TSC cites lack of funds for D1 Promotion.
