TSC Guidelines for Recruitment of Teachers in Post-Primary Institutions.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has initiated the recruitment process for teachers on permanent and pensionable terms for the 2024/2025 financial year. Regional Directors in Nairobi, along with County and Sub-County Directors, have been tasked with overseeing the selection of qualified candidates to fill declared vacancies.
Applications must be submitted online through the TSC portal (www.teachersonline.go.ke) and directed to the Secretary, Teachers Service Commission, specifying the institution, Sub-County, or County with the vacancy.
Dr. Muriuki, a senior TSC official, remarked that the commission expects the process to be guided by transparency, adding, “We want applicants to feel confident in the integrity of this recruitment.” The Selection Panels are required to uphold the Public Officer Ethics Act and the TSC Code of Conduct and Ethics (2015).
Roles and Responsibilities
TSC Regional Directors are responsible for orienting County Directors, who will then induct members of the Selection Panels. This induction includes key sections of the TSC Act and the Code of Regulations for Teachers (CORT, 2015), and it must take place before the selection exercise begins.
In Nairobi, the Regional Director will coordinate with County and Sub-County Directors to ensure the process is smooth and inclusive. Sub-County Directors must ensure that all interview venues are accessible, especially for applicants living with disabilities.
All applicants must be registered as teachers under Section 23(1) of the TSC Act (2012). Unregistered candidates will not be eligible. TSC Sub-County Directors are instructed to verify registration status during shortlisting to prevent the inclusion of ineligible candidates.
Application and Verification Requirements
Applicants whose names differ across academic or professional certificates and identity cards are required to submit an affidavit sworn under the Oaths and Statutory Declarations Act (Cap 15, Laws of Kenya). Those who re-sat national exams such as KCPE or KCSE must present all certified copies of their exam certificates, including any confirmation of cancellations from KNEC and the institution’s head.
Upon generation of applicant lists from the system, the TSC County Director shall forward them to the Sub-County Directors. The latter will convene the Sub-County Selection Panels, which are tasked with verifying all academic and professional credentials.
The interview schedule, including venues, dates, and times, must be communicated to all applicants through SMS at least seven days in advance. During document verification, applicants must present both originals and clear photocopies of the following:
- National ID card
- TSC Registration Certificate
- Degree/Diploma and academic transcripts
- KCSE and KCPE certificates (including for repeat attempts)
- Primary and secondary school leaving certificates
- NCPWD Card (if applicable)
- Sworn affidavit for name variations
- KNEC result certification (if applicable)
For those already serving as interns, only the national ID will be required.
READ ALSO: TSC Recruitment Guidelines for Primary School Teachers – 2025/2026
Merit, Preferences, and Conduct
Candidates must clearly declare their disability status and type of disability to facilitate appropriate placement. In cases of tied scores, preference will be given based on how long the candidate has been unemployed since graduation and the quality of their academic and professional qualifications. Where ties persist even after these considerations, subject-specific grades will be reviewed.
A senior panel member stated, “We are prioritizing fairness, but also recognizing local candidates and those who have waited longest.” Priority will be granted to applicants who have not previously held permanent and pensionable roles under the Commission, and to those hailing from the respective Sub-Counties or Counties.
The TSC Sub-County Director is mandated to create and submit Sub-County Merit Lists to the County Director. The County Director will then compile a County Merit List, which will be forwarded to TSC headquarters for final verification.
Integrity and Final Selection
Applicants must be aware that any form filled or employment offer accepted based on false or misleading information will be automatically revoked without further notice. The TSC underscores that honesty in the application process is non-negotiable.
The final list of interviewed candidates, ranked by performance for each vacancy (Appendix iii), must be submitted to the Commission by the County Director, along with the relevant recruitment documentation for those selected.
As reiterated by one official during the induction session, “This process is not just about filling positions—it’s about upholding trust and professionalism in the teaching service.”
Document Verification and Recruitment Oversight
Presentation and Verification of Required Documents.
Applicants must provide both original and clearly legible photocopies of specified documents. These include a national ID, teacher registration certificate, diploma or degree with transcripts, KCSE and KCPE certificates (including resit certificates where relevant), and a letter of result certification from KNEC if applicable.
Also required are school leaving certificates from both primary and secondary education, any other relevant testimonials, and a NCPWD card for those with disabilities.
In cases where an applicant’s names differ across documents, a sworn affidavit under Cap 15 of the Laws of Kenya must be presented. It is important to note that provisional transcripts are not acceptable.
READ ALSO: TSC Guidelines for Recruitment of Teachers in Post-Primary Institutions 2025/2026
Authentication Procedures by the Sub-Selection Panel
The Sub-Selection Panel is tasked with ensuring that all candidates meet the qualifications as advertised by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
They must also confirm that the academic and professional documents, including transcripts, are original and valid. If any candidate submits forged or fraudulent documentation, they will face disqualification and may also be deregistered.
Certification and Oversight Responsibilities
Before the interview process, the TSC Sub-County Director must certify that all photocopies are true reflections of the original documents. It is also their duty to issue Employment Application forms to the candidates who emerge successful from the Merit List.
Furthermore, it falls upon the TSC County and Sub-County Directors to guarantee a fair and transparent recruitment process. This includes ensuring the selection panels are properly informed of the recruitment guidelines, conducting interviews according to the stated procedures, and confirming that only candidates on the Merit List are employed.
Final Submission and Offer of Employment
All validated recruitment documents are to be forwarded to the TSC County Director by the respective Sub-County Director. The County Director must verify that successful applicants meet all outlined requirements.
Only then should duly signed Offer of Employment Letters be issued. The complete set of recruitment documents, as per the approved checklist, must be sent to TSC Headquarters within the required time frame.
Constitution of Selection Panels
For Institutions with Boards of Management (BOMs)
The selection panel in these institutions comprises five members:
- Chairperson of the BOM – serves as the Chairperson
- Head of the Institution – serves as the Secretary
- Subject Specialist – Member
- Chairperson of the Parent Association (PA) – Member
- TSC Sub-County Director or Representative – Member
For Schools Without Boards of Management
These institutions also operate with a five-member panel, structured as follows:
- TSC Sub-County Director or Representative – Chairperson
- Head of the Institution – Secretary
- Subject Specialist – Member
- Chairperson of the Parent Association – Member
- Another Member from the Parent Association – Member
For Junior Secondary Schools
The selection panel is streamlined to three members:
- TSC Sub-County Director – Chairperson
- TSC Sub-County Human Resource Officer – Secretary
- Curriculum Support Officer – Member
Verification of Recruitment Documents by the TSC County Director
TSC County Directors are responsible for confirming that all recruitment documents contain the necessary attachments, as outlined in the approved checklists.
They must also assess these documents to ensure that selected candidates meet the qualifications for teacher employment according to the recruitment guidelines.
Furthermore, the Directors are required to check that all forms, including score sheets and Selection Panel Minutes, are properly signed and confirm the candidate’s eligibility. In addition, any complaints received during the process should be compiled and the corresponding actions or recommendations forwarded to the Commission.
Submission of Documentation to TSC Headquarters
After completing the recruitment process, the TSC County Director must forward the following to TSC Headquarters: a duly signed file copy of the Offer of Employment letter accompanied by certified copies of several documents.
These include the National ID, the Teacher Registration Certificate, academic and professional certificates, official transcripts, a KNEC results certification letter (if applicable), the NCPWD Card (where applicable), an affidavit for any name discrepancies, bank card (front view), KRA PIN certificate, and NHIF card.
Two recent color passport-size photographs of each successful applicant and the original GP 69 Medical Examination report must also be included.
Additionally, the submission must contain a merit-ordered list of all interviewed applicants (Appendix III a), a system-generated list showing those who did not attend the interview (Appendix III b), a list of applicants with disabilities (Appendix VI), signed Minutes from the Sub-County Selection Panel, the completed and signed selection score guide, and a completed pay point particulars form.
Handling of Complaints
Applicants dissatisfied with the recruitment process are advised to submit written complaints to the TSC County Director immediately and to email the Headquarters at dirstaffing@tsc.go.ke within seven days following the selection. The TSC County Director is expected to evaluate and respond to all received complaints within seven days and report back to the Headquarters on the steps taken.
Should an applicant remain unsatisfied with the Director’s response, or if the complaint concerns the Director, they may escalate the matter to the Appeals Committee on staffing functions at the TSC Headquarters. The committee is tasked with investigating such claims and is expected to take suitable action within fourteen days.
For clarification regarding qualification matters within the guidelines, County Directors should be consulted. While the recruitment function has been decentralized under Section 20 of the TSC Act, the Commission retains the authority to carry out recruitment directly from the Headquarters when necessary.
TSC Regional Directors are mandated to ensure compliance with recruitment guidelines in their areas. They are also required to coordinate teacher recruitment within their regions, organize sensitization for County Directors and other stakeholders involved in the selection process, and address any complaints that may arise during recruitment in their respective regions.
TSC Guidelines for Recruitment of Teachers in Post-Primary Institutions.
