The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has advertised 34,016 vacancies for promotion of teachers in public primary schools, secondary schools and teachers’ training colleges, opening applications for career advancement in the 2026/2027 financial year.
The vacancies are open in 30 cadres, from Senior Teacher II to Chief Principal, with the commission directing interested teachers to submit applications online by August 10. TSC said that manual applications will not be accepted.
The promotions will open opportunities for teachers who have stagnated in the same job groups for years. The promotions follow the allocation of Sh2 billion in the current budget.
“Pursuant to its mandate, the commission invites applications from suitably qualified teachers for the following posts, in line with the Career Progression Guidelines. Interested candidates, who meet the required qualifications, should submit their applications online through the TSC portal – www.teachersonline.go.ke to be received no later than Monday, 10, August 2026. Manual applications shall not be considered,” reads the notice.
Recently, the TSC told Parliament that 178,871 primary and secondary school teachers have remained in the same job groups due to chronic budget shortfalls, with the commission saying it requires billions of shillings to clear the backlog.
TSC Acting CEO Evaleen Mitei.
Photo credit: Pool
TSC noted that the highest concentration of stagnated teachers is in Grade C3 for secondary school teachers and Grade C1 for primary school teachers, where many educators have remained for years despite meeting qualifications for promotion.
In the advertised vacancies, the largest number of openings target middle-level career grades, including 13,490 Senior Teacher II posts, 5,956 Senior Master IV positions and 4,210 Senior Teacher I vacancies.
The quarterly advertisement comes as thousands of teachers continue to seek career progression amid longstanding complaints over delayed promotions and stagnation.
The promotions also come months after the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) stepped up pressure on the commission to clear long-standing promotion backlogs.
During its first National Governing Council meeting for the 2026–2031 term, the union demanded that TSC immediately advertise vacancies for the promotion of 135,000 teachers who have remained in the same job groups for years.
“We are demanding that the TSC immediately advertise vacancies for the promotion of 135,000 teachers who have stagnated in their job groups. We also want them to implement the second phase of the 2025–2029 CBA and should immediately truncate the third and fourth phases of the CBA to be implemented in July 2027,” Kuppet Secretary-General Akello Misori.
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary-General Akelo Misori.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Speaking during the 49th Kenya Senior Schools Heads Association (Kessha) annual conference in Mombasa, the national chairman, Mr Willie Kuria, said prolonged stagnation had left many principals demoralised.
“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,” Mr Kuria said.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha) National Chairman Willy Kuria addresses principals attending the 48th Kessha conference in Mombasa on June 24, 2025.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
According to the 2026/27 Budget Estimates, the government increased TSC’s allocation from Sh387.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year to Sh422.6 billion to support teacher management, implementation of education reforms, teacher welfare and improved service delivery.
The budget also sets aside Sh2 billion to facilitate the promotion of about 30,000 teachers across various grades, while Sh4.9 billion has been allocated for the conversion of 20,000 intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms.
The advertisement of promotions follows an announcement by TSC chairman Dr Jamleck Muturi during the Kessha conference that the government had allocated Sh2 billion to facilitate the promotion of teachers.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Commission Chairman Jamleck Muturi.
Photo credit: File | 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.
He said the government had already promoted 274,285 teachers over the last three years, comprising 100,067 through competitive promotions and 174,218 through common cadre promotions, but acknowledged that many teachers still remain in the same job groups.
“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,” he said.
According to the advert, applicants must meet the requirements under the Career Progression Guidelines, including serving the prescribed minimum period in their current grades, obtaining satisfactory performance appraisal ratings and demonstrating the ability to supervise, mentor and provide professional support to other teachers.
TSC added that successful applicants will be required to present valid Chapter Six clearance documents and will be deployed to institutions which have vacancies.
