The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has officially kicked off the process of verifying the documents of thousands of primary school teachers in preparation for the highly anticipated teacher upgrading programme scheduled to begin in November.
The initiative, which is being supported by the World Bank, seeks to empower and retool primary school educators so that they can competently handle junior secondary classes under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
According to communication from various Sub-County Directors of TSC, invitations have already been sent out to targeted teachers, requiring them to present themselves for physical verification of their academic and professional credentials. This marks a crucial stage in the upgrading process that has been in the pipeline for months.
Documents Required for Verification
- The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate, including all attempts made
- The TSC registration certificate
- A valid national identity card
- The most recent payslip.
Officials have emphasized that the verification is meant to ensure transparency and consistency between teachers’ submitted details and the official TSC database.
In its most recent memo, the Commission revealed that a total of 38,849 primary school teachers have been shortlisted as qualified candidates for the World Bank-sponsored upgrading programme. The eligibility criteria, however, have sparked intense debate and uncertainty within the teaching fraternity.
According to TSC, only teachers who scored a KCSE mean grade of C+ (plus) and above, with at least a C+ in two teaching subjects, are currently considered eligible for the programme. This announcement has been received with anxiety, especially among thousands of P1 teachers who attained a mean grade of C (plain) in KCSE but had initially been assured that they would also be included in the upgrade plan.
The sharp shift in requirements has caused unrest among many teachers who had already submitted their details for consideration, hoping to benefit from the upcoming training. There are widespread fears that those with a KCSE mean grade of C (plain) will now be excluded, effectively locking them out of the junior secondary teaching opportunities.
Initially, the Commission had indicated that all P1 teachers with at least a KCSE mean grade of C plain and a C+ in two teaching subjects would be considered for the upgrading exercise. The revision of this policy has left many feeling betrayed and uncertain about their future in the profession.
Despite the concerns, TSC has maintained that the training is a critical step in ensuring quality education delivery in junior secondary schools. The World Bank-supported programme is designed to instill essential competencies in teachers, equipping them with the skills necessary to effectively teach Grades 7, 8, and 9 under CBC.
The Commission has emphasized that the deployment of adequately trained teachers to junior secondary schools is central to the success of the ongoing curriculum reforms, and only those who meet the academic threshold can guarantee the desired outcomes.
In a memo dated September 18, 2025, the Commission instructed its Regional and County Directors to countercheck and confirm the accuracy of the details submitted by shortlisted teachers. Particular attention is being paid to ensuring that teachers’ registration numbers and names perfectly match the TSC records, in a bid to eliminate errors, discrepancies, or cases of impersonation.
This exercise underscores the Commission’s commitment to maintaining a high level of integrity and accuracy throughout the upgrading programme, which is expected to reshape the future of teacher deployment in Kenya’s education sector.
As the November start date draws closer, the upgrading programme continues to attract keen attention from both educators and education stakeholders. While thousands of teachers look forward to advancing their qualifications and transitioning into junior secondary teaching roles, others remain anxious over whether they will be left behind due to shifting requirements.
The coming weeks are expected to be decisive, as the verification process concludes and TSC releases the final list of teachers who will undergo the training. For now, the Commission insists that the programme remains on track and that only teachers meeting the laid-down criteria will benefit from the World Bank’s support.
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