Drama, music teachers win in promotions

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Nancy Macharia. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Around 36,275 teachers in regular and special needs schools are poised for promotion as schools enter the third term.

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Nancy Macharia has invited eligible candidates to apply online via the commission’s portal by September 8.

“Pursuant to this mandate, the Commission invites applications from suitably qualified teachers for the posts shown below in line with the career progression guidelines for teachers,” Dr. Macharia said.

The promotion will impact 18,073 secondary teachers, 16,835 primary teachers, 1,076 teachers in special needs schools, and 288 instructors in teacher training colleges (TTC).

The move will affect chief principals, principals, deputy principals, senior masters, and secondary school teachers.

Others are senior lecturers in TTCs, head teachers, deputy head-teachers, and senior teachers in both regular and special needs primary schools.

Among these, 12,716 teachers will be promoted to senior masters IV in high schools, while 10,819 will be promoted to senior teachers II in primary schools, both in regular schools.

Additionally, there will be 3,040 senior teachers, 1,930 deputy head-teachers in regular primary schools, and 1,928 teachers promoted under secondary teacher I.

Promotions

This announcement follows a statement by President William Ruto that the promotions reflect the government’s commitment to improving teacher welfare.

Speaking at Nakuru State House after hosting a State Gala for winners of the 95th Kenya Music Festival, the Head of State said that funds have been allocated to support the process.

“In this financial year, we have provided for the promotion of 5,000 teachers directly and 36,000 teachers indirectly. We have allocated Sh1 billion to facilitate this process. We must ensure we promote those teachers who excel in their line of duty,” Ruto said.

The president directed that priority should be given to teachers who have been involved in training students in drama and music.

“I want to recommend that teachers who have scripted, trained and directed students to the festival should join those to be promoted in the cycle. Those who have excelled have gone beyond the call of duty.”

Teacher unions, which have been pushing for the promotions, have welcomed the directive.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers Secretary General Akelo Misori said this was one of the demands during the review of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) 2021-2025.

“We have been pushing for progressive promotion of teachers who have stagnated in the same job group for many years. As we welcome the move, we demand to have more teachers to move to the next job group,” Mr Misori said.

Misori said that the government needs to recognise teachers’ contributions to the nation’s transformation. “We want to see more in terms of promotion and salary increment as per the CBA for our teachers. We will go into the meeting with open minds, and we expect to be given better terms,” Misori said.

Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Collins Oyuu said that teacher promotions have been a persistent concern that needs to be addressed.

“The previous CBA shifted the policy on promotion of teachers from academic qualifications to the appraisal mode. This disadvantaged most of our teachers who went and acquired higher academic qualifications,” Mr Oyuu said.