TSC Scraps Interview Requirement for Teacher Promotions in Grades B5, C1, and C2
TSC Scraps Interview Requirement for Teacher Promotions in Grades B5, C1, and C2, The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has officially removed the mandatory interview and promotion form requirement for teachers in grades B5, C1, and C2. Moving forward, teachers in these grades will enjoy automatic promotions based on years of service and performance, without needing to apply or attend interviews.
Automatic Teacher Promotion Policy Explained
TSC’s new policy ensures that teachers in the common cadre job groups—B5, C1, and C2—advance automatically to the next grade after serving three years with satisfactory performance.
This decision covers:
- P1 Certificate Holders
Teachers starting in Grade B5 will automatically move to Grade C1 after three years of service. - Diploma Holders
Teachers in Grade C1 will progress to Grade C2 after three years, provided their performance meets the required standard. - Bachelor’s Degree Holders
Teachers in Grade C2 will advance to Grade C3 after serving for three years with satisfactory results.
TSC made these clarifications while addressing the Parliament’s Committee on Education, assuring teachers that the changes aim to streamline promotions and minimize career stagnation.
Why TSC Introduced Automatic Promotions
TSC emphasized that automatic promotion helps absorb teachers while they are still at their prime productive age, allowing them to build long-term careers in education.
The Commission also reiterated its commitment to:
- Merit-based hiring
- Transparency and accountability
- Equity and fairness
- Inclusivity and non-discrimination
TSC’s recruitment strategy focuses on balancing teacher supply and demand while respecting budget limits and existing staffing structures.
Fair and Equitable Teacher Recruitment
TSC ensures equal distribution of recruitment vacancies across all 47 counties. This approach promotes national equity and fairness in teacher hiring and deployment.
The teacher recruitment process involves:
- Identifying Vacancies:
Based on teacher shortages, retirements, and school needs. - Distribution of Vacancies:
Opportunities are shared proportionally across counties and sub-counties. - Advertisement:
Vacancies are publicly advertised through newspapers and TSC’s official website. - Online Applications:
Teachers apply online via the TSC recruitment portal. - Shortlisting & Verification:
Shortlisted candidates present their academic and professional documents at local offices or schools for verification. - Interviews (for applicable grades):
Interviews are decentralized to sub-county or school level, promoting accessibility for candidates in remote areas.
Promoting Regional Balance and Teacher Retention
TSC ensures that teachers are recruited and deployed within their home counties where possible. This strategy improves teacher retention and reduces staffing gaps, especially in Arid, Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL), and hard-to-staff areas.
The Commission also reserves:
- 5% of all advertised vacancies for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
- Special consideration for marginalized groups and gender balance.
Data-Driven and Needs-Based Recruitment
To meet the demands of Kenya’s evolving education system, TSC uses a data-driven approach to match teachers with schools based on:
- Subject-specific shortages
- Student population
- School infrastructure and demographics
Special priority goes to critical teaching areas such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), Technical and Vocational Education (TVET), Arts, and Special Needs Education.
When no applicants are available for specific subject combinations, TSC considers the next qualified candidate to avoid staffing disruptions.
Key Takeaways:
- Automatic promotions now apply to teachers in Grades B5, C1, and C2.
- Promotions depend on years of service and satisfactory performance—not interviews.
- TSC remains committed to equity, fairness, transparency, and inclusion in both promotions and recruitment.
- Recruitment is tailored to meet subject area shortages and regional teacher needs.
TSC Contact Information:
- Address: Kilimanjaro Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi
- Tel: 020 2892003/4
- Email: ceo@tsc.go.ke
- Website: www.tsc.go.ke
