TSC’s Updated Promotion Requirements Impact Teacher Advancement
High Demand for School Administrators
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is under pressure to fill over 15,000 vacancies for principals and head teachers.
However, the same number of teachers is scheduled to retire by the end of July this year, creating an urgent need for replacements.
Positions in Demand
The positions in high demand include:
- Deputy Principals
- Deputy Headteachers
- Senior Teachers
- Senior Masters
Challenges in Advancement
The TSC has been criticized for making it difficult for teachers to advance to administrative roles.
This stems from the implementation of the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG) and the elimination of Schemes of Service (SoS), which have complicated the process for classroom teachers to become school administrators.
Calls for Relaxation of Qualifications
Teachers’ unions, Knut and Kuppet, have urged the Commission to relax the qualifications needed for teachers to become administrators.
Despite recent calls for applications, suitable candidates have not been forthcoming.
Dr. Nancy Macharia, TSC’s chief executive officer, reported that the first and second calls for applications in January and March did not attract sufficient candidates.
Current Recruitment Efforts
The TSC continues to appeal for qualified teachers to fill approximately 1,001 openings, including 987 deputy head teachers in conventional primary schools, and positions for eight principals and six deputy principals in Special Needs Education (SNE) schools.
Dr. Macharia announced an extra opportunity for interested teachers to apply for senior school administration jobs between July 9 and July 15.
The Commission emphasizes promoting teachers to recognize and reward their efforts, align them for succession planning, and motivate better performance.
Previous Recruitment Campaigns
In January, TSC advertised promotion opportunities, resulting in 14,738 teachers being promoted. Despite this, many schools remain without heads and deputy heads due to a lack of applications.
Dr. Macharia highlighted the Commission’s responsibility to provide institutional administrators for public educational institutions, including special needs schools.
Application Outcomes
For positions such as:
- Chief Principals
- Principals
- Deputy Principals
- Deputy Head Teachers
- Senior Masters
- Senior Teachers
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TSC reported a significant shortfall in applications. In SNE schools, only one teacher applied for a chief principal position, and two applied for deputy principal roles.
Additionally, 5,152 deputy head teachers were hired in conventional primary schools, leaving 2,592 positions unfilled.
Re-advertisement of Positions
TSC re-advertised the positions two months later, receiving 1,591 applications, including seven for principal positions and three for deputy principal positions in SNE schools.
For deputy head teacher roles in normal elementary schools, 1,581 teachers applied.
The updated promotion requirements have significantly affected teachers seeking career advancement, with many positions remaining vacant despite multiple calls for applications.
TSC’s Updated Promotion Requirements Impact Teacher Advancement
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