TSC Kicks Off Promotion Interviews, Issues New Guidelines

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has officially commenced nationwide promotion interviews for teachers, marking the beginning of a crucial exercise that will determine the career progression of thousands of educators across the country.

In its latest announcement, TSC revealed that a total of 64,619 teachers were shortlisted out of tens of thousands who had applied for the 21,313 advertised promotion vacancies. The promotion drive cuts across various job groups, from C1 to D4, and also includes Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs), key officials who provide instructional and curriculum guidance to schools.

According to the TSC schedule, the interviews have begun with primary school teacher applicants, whose sessions are set to run from October 6 to October 10, 2025. These interviews target teachers aspiring for higher job grades such as C4, C5, and D1. The Commission has prioritized educators in the higher job groups before considering those in the lower ones.

After the conclusion of the primary school phase, attention will shift to post-primary institution teachers, those in secondary schools and teacher training colleges (TTCs), as well as Curriculum Support Officers. Their interviews will take place over ten days, from October 13 to October 24, 2025.

While the promotion exercise has brought hope to thousands of teachers seeking career advancement, it has also sparked discussions over the promotion criteria, which some educators believe heavily favor senior teachers.

According to the TSC promotion scoresheet, age, years of service in the current grade, and administrative experience will significantly influence promotion outcomes. Teachers aged between 52 and 56 years will score 25 marks, those aged 47 to 51 years will receive 20 marks, while younger teachers below 41 years will get 10 marks.

The number of years a teacher has served in their current grade is another decisive factor. Those who have served for at least seven years will be awarded 30 marks, while those with six, five, four, and three years in the same grade will score 25, 20, 15, and 10 marks, respectively.

The scoresheet also considers whether an applicant has acted in an administrative capacity, such as serving as a deputy headteacher or head of department, which can further boost their score.

Guidelines for the Exercise

In a circular to all regional and county offices, the TSC issued detailed guidelines outlining the conduct of the interviews. The Commission emphasized fairness, transparency, and merit-based selection, urging panels to ensure all eligible candidates are accorded an equal opportunity.

The circular also highlighted that the exercise is part of the Commission’s ongoing strategy to address teacher stagnation in one job group for long periods, a concern that has been raised repeatedly by educators and unions.

The number of available promotion slots is expected to grow in the coming years following a commitment by President William Ruto to expand the teacher promotion budget. Speaking at a meeting with teachers at State House, Nairobi, President Ruto announced that his administration will double the allocation for teacher promotions from Sh1 billion to Sh2 billion annually.

The President assured teachers that the government remains committed to recognizing their hard work and ensuring career progression opportunities are regularly available.

“We want to motivate our teachers by ensuring that promotions are fair, timely, and adequately funded. Every teacher deserves a clear path of growth,” Ruto said.

The ongoing interviews are part of a broader TSC effort to streamline teacher advancement since President Ruto took office.

The Commission has already conducted several large-scale promotion exercises in recent years: December 2022: 14,034 promotions, September 2023: 36,275 promotions, 2024: 25,633 promotions, and August 2025: 21,313 promotions

This brings the total number of teachers promoted since 2022 to 97,255, a figure that underscores the government’s continued focus on professional growth within the education sector.

As the October promotion interviews continue, thousands of teachers remain hopeful that this exercise will mark a turning point in their careers. For many, a successful outcome not only means a higher salary but also recognition of years of service and dedication to nurturing Kenya’s learners.

With the government’s renewed promise to increase promotion opportunities and the TSC’s commitment to merit-based advancement, the teaching fraternity is optimistic that the long-standing issue of career stagnation will gradually become a thing of the past.

Read Also: TSC, Equity To Equip Teachers With Financial Literacy, Saving Skills