The Teachers Service Commission, TSC, has announced that only 30,000 teachers will be promoted in the upcoming cycle, dealing a major blow to thousands of educators who had expected a larger intake.
The latest announcement by TSC has sparked frustration and uncertainty across the education sector, with teachers and union officials expressing concern that the reduced number will worsen long-standing delays in career progression.
The revelation was made on May 13 by Acting TSC Chief Executive Officer Eveleen Mitei while appearing before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Education.
During the session, Mitei addressed a range of issues currently affecting the education sector, including teacher promotions, staffing challenges and concerns over transparency in the promotion process.
The reduction of 20,000 promotion slots ahead of the post-July 2026 cycle has particularly shocked teachers because it comes despite an increase in budgetary allocation for promotions.
The government had doubled the promotion budget from Ksh1 billion to Ksh2 billion for the 2026/2027 financial year, creating expectations among teachers that the previously promised 50,000 promotions would finally be achieved.
Many educators say they had already begun preparing their documents and updating their records in anticipation of the larger promotion exercise. However, the announcement that the available funding will only cater for 30,000 teachers has triggered disappointment across the country.
“Teachers were warming up for 50,000 slots based on the President’s word. To hear that Ksh2 billion only covers 30,000 people is a shock to the system,” said an Assistant Treasurer from the Kenya National Union of Teachers following the parliamentary session.
The development has reignited debate over what teachers describe as widespread stagnation within the profession. For years, educators have complained that many teachers remain in the same job groups for long periods without promotion, despite meeting the required qualifications and accumulating years of service.
Some teachers have reportedly waited for more than a decade before receiving promotions, leading to low morale and growing dissatisfaction within the sector.
Members of Parliament sitting in the education committee also voiced concerns over alleged regional imbalances in the promotion process. Legislators questioned whether some counties and regions were benefiting more than others and urged the TSC to ensure that future promotions are conducted fairly and transparently.
The committee further directed the TSC to submit its Teachers’ Progression Guidelines for formal parliamentary review.
Lawmakers said the move is aimed at addressing complaints raised by teachers and stakeholders regarding the criteria used to determine promotions. Concerns have emerged over whether the existing guidelines adequately balance merit, experience and equal opportunity.
According to the commission, the final number of teachers to be promoted will depend on vacancies that arise through retirements, resignations, transfers and other exits from service. TSC officials maintained that the available budget can only sustain 30,000 promotions under the current financial framework.
The commission has also defended its merit-based scoring system, arguing that it was introduced to prioritise teachers who have served for long periods without advancement.
TSC says the approach is intended to clear the backlog of pending promotions by giving preference to senior and long-serving educators who may have remained stagnant for years.
However, the system has continued to attract criticism, especially from younger and mid-career teachers who feel disadvantaged by the criteria.
Many argue that the heavy emphasis on years of service slows down career growth for qualified teachers who may have strong academic credentials and good performance records but fewer years in service. Critics say the policy risks discouraging ambitious teachers and limiting opportunities for professional growth.
Promotion trends under the current administration have fluctuated significantly over the past few years. In December 2022, a total of 14,034 teachers were promoted.
The number then rose sharply to 36,275 promotions in September 2023, raising hopes that the government was making progress in addressing stagnation within the teaching profession. However, the figures dropped again to 25,633 promotions in 2024 before slightly improving to 21,313 promotions in August 2025.
Although the planned 30,000 promotions for 2026 represent an increase from last year’s figures, many teachers insist the number still falls far below expectations and does not adequately address the growing demand for career advancement within the sector.
As Parliament prepares to review the Teachers’ Progression Guidelines, thousands of teachers across the country remain anxiously waiting for clarity on how the promotions will be conducted and whether additional slots could still be created.
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