Thousands of qualified teachers nationwide could have their promotions delayed due to the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) severe financial difficulties.
The commission needs an extra Sh5 billion to properly administer teacher promotions, but just Sh1 billion has been set up for this purpose in the current fiscal year, according to a parliamentary committee.
According to a report by the National Assembly’s Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC), the funding shortfall has severely limited TSC’s ability to promote teachers who have served for at least three years in their current grades.
Each year, more teachers become eligible for promotion, increasing the backlog and slowing career progression within the profession.
The committee, chaired by Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, noted that the lack of adequate funding could negatively affect teacher morale and the quality of instruction in public schools.
It has now asked TSC to provide a detailed breakdown of the total funds required, the cost of each promotion, and a clear timeline for clearing the accumulated backlog.
In the 2025 financial year, TSC received Sh378.2 billion to cater for salaries, recruitment of permanent teachers and interns, and other operational costs. However, MPs observed that this allocation does not sufficiently address the growing demand for promotions.
In July, TSC introduced a new policy aimed at fast-tracking promotions for teachers in common grades, allowing automatic advancement after three years of satisfactory service without interviews. While the policy was intended to reduce stagnation, financial constraints remain a major obstacle to its full implementation.
The CIOC has also raised concerns over inconsistencies in promotion patterns and possible favouritism. MPs are now demanding detailed data on promoted and eligible teachers, as well as measures to ensure fairness and balanced staffing across all counties.