The Teachers Service Commission has attributed ongoing delays in teacher promotions to inadequate funding.
The commission dismissed claims that it had deliberately stalled career progression for educators.
Acting Chief Executive Officer Evaleen Mitei explained that promotions depend on budget allocations and cannot proceed without sufficient government funding.
What teachers need to understand is that promotions happen based on availability of funding,” Mitei said.
She added that the delay was not intentional on the commission’s part.
Her remarks came as a response to criticism from the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers, which has accused TSC of neglecting teachers’ welfare by holding up promotions for months.
Mitei revealed that KSh 2 billion has been allocated for this year’s promotion exercise.
She said the funding will allow the commission to promote 34,016 teachers.
The CEO described the allocation as proof of TSC’s commitment to career progression for its workforce.
Mitei also clarified that promotions are guided strictly by Career Progression Guidelines and cannot be awarded automatically based on individual expectations or annual performance reviews.
“Our teachers expect that if you do well in games this year, you will be promoted, then next year, you will be promoted again,” she said.
She noted that such expectations are not possible under the current regulatory framework.
“I want to assure our teachers that the commission is committed to promotion, but we will promote them within the provisions of the career progression guidelines,” Mitei added.
Her clarification follows TSC’s announcement last week of 54,016 total vacancies, which included the 34,016 promotion slots.
The advertised promotions covered 13,490 Senior Teacher II positions, 5,956 Senior Master IV posts and 4,210 Senior Teacher I vacancies.
TSC also opened applications for 20,000 post-primary teachers to support the rollout of the Competency-Based Education curriculum in Junior Schools.