TSC Fresh Directive Targets Teachers Missing In Upgrade Programme

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has raised the alarm over serious inconsistencies in the records of at least 2,000 teachers who had been shortlisted for consideration in the ongoing upgrade programme, casting doubt on the accuracy of the data submitted and raising fresh eligibility questions.

In a confidential internal memo dated September 18, 2025, TSC’s Director of Teacher Professional Management, Dr. Mugwuku Nthamburi, revealed that the Commission had encountered multiple anomalies while reviewing teacher details submitted by regional and county offices.

According to the memo, the affected teachers’ names and registration numbers did not appear in TSC’s central database, suggesting errors during the transfer of details into the Commission’s digital system.

“The Commission has been processing the data submitted. From the data, it has been noted that information on 2,000 teachers did not appear in our records. This implies there were anomalies in transferring teacher details,” the memo read in part.

Beyond missing records, the Commission also found that some teachers’ qualifications as submitted by field officers did not match what was officially captured in TSC’s system.

In other cases, teachers reported that their details were completely omitted during the nationwide data collection exercise, sparking concern among those hoping to benefit from the highly anticipated upgrade programme.

To address the inconsistencies, TSC has directed all regional and county directors to urgently cross-check the affected records, ensuring that every teacher’s registration number, name, and professional details align with official Commission records.

County officials have also been instructed to gather additional background information from teachers, including Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) index numbers and the exact year each teacher sat for their final exam.

The Commission has set a strict deadline of September 24, 2025, for the revised and verified data to be submitted using a prescribed Excel template.

The exercise is part of TSC’s broader effort to implement the upgrade programme for P1 teachers—an initiative that has attracted widespread attention across the education sector. The programme primarily targets primary school teachers who scored at least a C+ in two teaching subjects but do not hold a diploma or degree.

For many teachers, it represents a critical pathway to career growth and higher pay, especially in light of the ongoing curriculum reforms under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Pressure has been mounting on the Commission to guarantee fairness, transparency, and inclusivity in the upgrade process. Teacher unions and education stakeholders have consistently called for a process that avoids bias or systemic exclusion of deserving teachers.

The latest data inconsistencies are likely to intensify those concerns, particularly as thousands of teachers await confirmation of their eligibility.

At the same time, TSC has rolled out promotional interviews for teachers and Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs) for the 2025/2026 financial year. In a circular issued earlier this month, the Commission outlined a detailed schedule for the interviews, which will be carried out in two phases.

The first phase will run from October 6 to October 10, 2025, focusing on primary school teachers in grades C2 to D1. The interviews will cover candidates seeking promotion to various leadership positions, including Senior Headteacher (D1), Headteacher (C5), Deputy Headteacher II (C4), and Senior Teacher I and II (C3 and C2).

These interviews follow a major advertisement in August 2025, when TSC announced 21,313 promotional vacancies across different cadres. Between August 12 and 25, thousands of teachers submitted applications, after which the Commission embarked on a rigorous shortlisting process to identify suitable candidates.

According to TSC, the structured promotional exercise is aimed at recognizing merit, ensuring equitable distribution of leadership positions, and addressing gaps in teacher management across the country’s public schools.

The anomalies in the upgrade programme data come at a delicate time when the Commission is balancing both promotion interviews and the verification of records for teachers hoping to climb the professional ladder.

Education analysts note that the Commission’s ability to clean up the data and run a transparent process will determine not only the credibility of the upgrade programme but also the morale of teachers across the country.

For now, all eyes remain on TSC regional and county directors, who have just days to verify and resubmit the disputed records. The outcome will shape the next steps of the upgrade programme, which thousands of P1 teachers view as their long-awaited chance for professional recognition and advancement.

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