NAIROBI, Kenya – The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has unveiled new promotion guidelines for the 2025/26 cycle, with seniority, age, and professional contributions forming the backbone of the evaluation framework.
The guidelines are expected to give teachers aged 57 years and above a significant edge, rewarding long service and accumulated experience in job groups where many have remained for years.
According to the 32 grade-specific scoring sheets released by the Commission, a 57-year-old teacher who has served in the same job group for seven years will automatically secure the bulk of points under the new framework.
In contrast, younger teachers aged 41 and below will only receive 10 marks in the age category, while their older colleagues will get 50.
“To promote consistency, fairness and transparency, the commission has developed 32 grade-specific scoring guides, which shall be used in the 2025/26 financial year promotion cycle,” reads the TSC circular.
This month, the Commission announced 24,000 promotional slots across various grades, with the new system emphasizing:
- Length of stay in grade – the single biggest scoring factor, earning up to 50 marks.
- Professional qualifications and contributions – including service as KNEC examiners, CBC trainers, mentors under the Teacher Induction and Mentorship program, or contributors to curriculum development at KICD and Cemastea.
- Performance in the Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) tool, which will contribute up to 10 marks.
Academic qualifications will carry less weight, with PhD holders earning a maximum of five marks, followed by master’s and bachelor’s degree holders.
For top administrative positions such as Chief Principal (Grade D5/T-Scale 15), the Commission has introduced a uniform scoring system that will apply across senior principals, principals, deputies, headteachers, and senior lecturers.
TSC defended the changes, saying they are anchored in constitutional values of fairness, transparency, and meritocracy.
It also encouraged teachers living with disabilities to apply, affirming that affirmative action will be applied in the selection process.
However, education analysts caution that the system could disadvantage younger teachers, many of whom have pursued advanced academic qualifications but lack years of service.
During last week’s State Concert for music festival winners, President William Ruto announced 850 additional promotional slots for teachers involved in arts, drama, sports, and music—adding to the 400 promotions that were pending from last year.
With the new framework in place, the 2025/26 cycle is shaping up as a turning point for thousands of teachers who have long complained of stagnation in their career progression.
