Running Schools Without Senior Managers: The Leadership Crisis in Education.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has advertised 19,943 senior administrative positions in educational institutions, highlighting ongoing challenges in administration and succession.
These positions are in schools currently led by teachers in acting capacities or where school heads are nearing retirement.
Vacancies in Secondary Schools
The 2025 advertisement emphasizes the pressing need for senior administrators in secondary schools:
- Principals:
- Chief Principals: 44 positions for national schools, the highest-ranking posts in the teaching profession.
- Senior Principals: 126 positions.
- Principals of Regular Secondary Schools: 652 vacancies, primarily in sub-county (day) schools, which rely heavily on government funding.
- Deputy Principals: 2,194 positions, a notable number given the approximately 10,000 public secondary schools.
Vacancies in Primary Schools
Primary schools face an even greater need for senior administrators:
- Headteachers:
- Senior Headteachers (Regular Schools): 254 positions.
- Headteachers (Regular Schools): 2,130 positions.
- Headteachers (Special Needs Education Schools): 33 positions.
- Deputy Headteachers (I): 3,653 vacancies.
- Senior Teacher I (Regular Schools): 4,703 positions.
Teachers’ Unions’ Perspectives
Akello Misori, the secretary-general of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), welcomed the move to fill vacancies.
He noted that it aligns with KUPPET’s long-standing demand for regular teacher promotions and is part of the return-to-work agreement signed after the August 2024 nationwide strike. The strike was driven by KUPPET’s call to promote 130,000 teachers.
Misori acknowledged the substantial number of vacancies and emphasized the need to begin addressing the issue, even though the TSC does not offer acting allowances. He also highlighted the dependency of promotions on budgetary allocations by the National Assembly.
Primary Schools’ Promotion Challenges
Johnson Nzioka, the chair of the Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association, underscored the need for promotion opportunities for headteachers, particularly given their increased responsibilities in managing junior secondary schools.
He pointed out that many headteachers are stagnating at Job Group C5 or D1, which serves as the ceiling for promotions. He called for promotions based on qualifications, especially for those with degrees.
Promotion Challenges and Budgetary Constraints
Teacher promotions are guided by the Career Progression Guidelines introduced in 2018, replacing the Teachers Schemes of Service and the Code of Regulations for Teachers. However, the TSC cited insufficient budgetary allocations as a significant obstacle.
| Budget Requested vs. Allocated | Amount (in KSh) |
|---|---|
| Requested by TSC | 2.2 billion |
| Allocated by National Assembly | 1 billion |
This shortfall means that only half of the teachers eligible for promotion will be promoted. Over the years, promotions have been limited to filling vacancies left through natural attrition due to inadequate funding.
Summary of Key Issues
| Key Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Administrative Vacancies | 19,943 positions across primary and secondary schools. |
| Challenges in Promotions | Limited promotions due to budgetary constraints. |
| Union Advocacy | Calls for fair and regular promotions for teachers. |
The ongoing administrative gaps and budget constraints pose significant challenges to the education sector, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable solutions.
Running Schools Without Senior Managers: The Leadership Crisis in Education.
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