NAIROBI, Kenya — The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has ordered the immediate redistribution of teachers across the country in a fresh effort to address staffing imbalances affecting schools.
In a memo, the Commission directed regional and county directors to begin implementing a nationwide teacher rationalisation exercise aimed at ensuring equitable staffing in all institutions.
“Redistribute teachers across schools to ensure that no primary school remains understaffed where another school within the same area has excess or adequate staffing,” TSC stated in the directive.
The Commission said the move was prompted by persistent disparities in teacher allocation, with some schools operating with excess staff while others continue to struggle with acute shortages.
“Notable disparities remain evident where some institutions have excess staffing while others continue to operate below approved staffing norms,” the memo read. “It is therefore necessary to undertake an immediate staff balancing exercise within your areas of jurisdiction.”
Under the new directive, junior schools will undergo redistribution based on subject combinations to address gaps created by the transition under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). In senior schools, the exercise will target both subject-specific shortages and overall staffing deficits.
TSC instructed county and regional education officials to begin the redistribution process immediately and ensure the transition is implemented smoothly without disrupting learning.
The Commission has faced mounting pressure over teacher shortages in public schools, particularly in rural and marginalised areas where institutions often operate below the approved staffing levels.
Teachers’ unions and education stakeholders have repeatedly warned that uneven staffing has worsened learning outcomes and increased workloads for teachers.
The latest directive also comes against the backdrop of industrial action threats and complaints from teachers over burnout, delayed promotions, and heavy workloads.
Teacher unions have in recent months accused the government of failing to recruit enough teachers to match rising student populations, especially after the rollout of junior secondary education.
Schools in some counties have reported cases where a single teacher handles multiple subjects outside their area of specialisation.
The staffing exercise aligns with TSC’s constitutional mandate under Article 237 of the Constitution to manage the recruitment and deployment of teachers in public schools.
It also reflects ongoing efforts by the Commission to improve equity in access to quality education across the country.
