More than 30,000 teachers are set to be promoted this financial year after the government allocated Sh2 billion to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in a move aimed at addressing career stagnation, boosting morale and improving service delivery in public schools.
Speaking during the opening of the 49th Kenya Senior School Heads Association (KESSHA) annual national conference in Mombasa, TSC chairman Dr Jamleck Muturi said the promotions will be advertised in August. He said the commission would recognise merit, experience and productivity while providing teachers with opportunities for career growth under the government’s ongoing education reforms.
“In addition, the Government has allocated 8.4 billion to address the second phase of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which will lead to a salary increment for the teachers,” Dr Muturi said.
The latest promotions come barely months after the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) intensified pressure on the TSC to address widespread career stagnation affecting thousands of classroom teachers and school administrators across the country.
“One of the most pressing concerns remains stagnation in certain job groups. Many principals, especially those serving in Grade D3, remain in the same grade for prolonged periods with limited opportunities for advancement. This situation affects morale and undermines the motivation of highly experienced school Heads who continue to shoulder immense responsibilities in managing institutions,” said KESSHA chairperson, Mr Willie Kuria.
National chairman of Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association Willie Kuria (centre) speaks to the media in Mombasa on June 22, 2026.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
“Sh2 billion has been earmarked to facilitate the promotion of approximately 30,000 teachers across various grades. These promotions are intended to recognise merit, reward experience and provide career growth opportunities for deserving teachers,” Dr Muturi said.
According to the TSC chairman, the government has already promoted 274,285 teachers over the last three years, comprising 100,067 teachers through competitive promotions and another 174,218 through the common cadre promotions. Despite the progress, TSC data shows that many teachers have remained in the same grades for extended periods, prompting fresh budgetary allocations to accelerate career progression.
“TSC data reveals that many teachers have stagnated in the same job group for many years. The good news is that with the Sh2 billion budgetary allocation, we will promote more teachers again this financial year,” Dr Muturi said.
The government has also increased the TSC budget from Sh387.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year to Sh422.6 billion in the 2026/27 financial year to support teacher management, implementation of education reforms, teacher welfare and improved service delivery.
The budget includes Sh4.9 billion for the conversion of 20,000 intern teachers into permanent and pensionable terms, fulfilling a long-standing demand by teachers and unions.
The TSC chair noted that over the last four years, the government has recruited more than 100,000 teachers to address staffing shortages and facilitate the rollout of the Competency-Based Education (CBE).
The additional teachers, he said, have improved staffing levels, enhanced learner-teacher ratios and strengthened curriculum implementation, although the Commission continues to push for more funding to bridge the remaining staffing gaps.
He also announced that the commission is finalising the 2026 Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), which will fundamentally change how teachers advance in the profession.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Among the major reforms is the introduction of two distinct career pathways, one for classroom teachers wishing to remain in teaching and another for those aspiring to administrative and leadership positions. The move is expected to end a long-standing complaint that teachers were forced into administration merely to earn promotions and better salaries.
“One of the most significant reforms in the proposed 2026 Career Progression Guidelines is the introduction of dual career tracks: one for classroom teachers who wish to remain in the classroom and deepen their pedagogical practice, and one for teachers who aspire to leadership and administrative roles,” Dr Muturi said.
He said the new framework would recognise excellence in classroom teaching by allowing outstanding teachers to rise to the highest grades without necessarily becoming administrators.
“This is a game-changer. For too long, the only way for a dedicated classroom teacher to earn higher pay was to become an administrator. The new framework honours and rewards teaching excellence in its own right,” he said.
For school principals, the revised guidelines will place greater emphasis on demonstrated leadership, school performance and continuous professional development rather than years of service alone.
“The commission is ensuring that these guidelines recognise not merely years of service, but demonstrated leadership capability, school performance outcomes and professional development. We believe that a principal should not just be an administrator but also a curriculum leader, a mentor of teachers and a builder of institutional culture,” Dr Muturi said.
He added that the TSC is consulting the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) before the new guidelines are approved and rolled out.
Another Sh8.4 billion has been allocated to implement the second phase of the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), paving the way for salary increments for teachers.
“This substantial allocation affirms the government’s recognition of teachers as the most important resource in the education sector,” Dr Muturi said.
“These are not small amounts. They reflect a government that is walking the talk. The Commission is committed to ensuring that every shilling allocated to teacher management is utilised with integrity, fairness and maximum impact for the benefit of learners across the Republic,” Dr Muturi said.
