The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has set out how primary school teachers will be selected for permanent and pensionable posts in the 2026/2027 financial year. The rules are in TSC Circular No. 20/2026, dated 21 October 2026. Selection is run at sub-county level, where every applicant is invited for document verification and scored out of 100 marks. Only teachers duly registered under Section 23(1) of the Teachers Service Commission Act, 2012 are considered.
Marks at a glance
| Scoring area | Maximum marks |
|---|---|
| A. Professional qualification | 5 |
| B. Age | 20 |
| C. Length of stay since qualifying as a teacher | 75 |
| Total | 100 |
TSC states that the professional qualification score does not include teaching practice.
Who is eligible
Applicants must be registered teachers. TSC says applicants who are not duly registered will not be considered. The circular lists these professional qualifications, each with a minimum KCSE mean grade or equivalent:
| Professional qualification | Minimum KCSE mean grade |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Education (Primary Option) | C+ |
| Bachelor of Education (Secondary Option) with a P1 certificate | C+ |
| Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education with a P1 certificate | C plain |
| DPTE, UDPTE or Diploma in Education (Primary Option) from a recognised institution | C plain |
| PTE certificate | Not stated in the circular |
How the selection process works
- Apply online. Applications go to the Secretary of TSC through the TSC online platform, for the county or sub-county where a vacancy has been declared.
- Lists are shared. The County Director passes the applicant lists to Sub-County Directors, who convene the sub-county selection panels. The panels set interview venues, dates and times.
- Invitation. All applicants are invited for verification. TSC says applicants are told the venue, date and time by SMS at least seven days before the exercise.
- Verification in person. Applicants must appear before the panel on the set dates. Original academic and professional certificates are examined for authenticity, and the Sub-County Director certifies the photocopies.
- Scoring. The panel awards marks using the score sheet. Each sub-county panel has three members: the Sub-County Director or representative (chairperson), the sub-county Human Resource Officer (secretary) and a Curriculum Support Officer (member).
- Merit lists. The panel compiles a sub-county merit list and a separate one for applicants with disabilities. The County Director consolidates them into a county merit list for verification at TSC headquarters.
TSC may also carry out recruitment from its headquarters, despite the decentralisation of recruitment under Section 20 of the TSC Act.
The score sheet explained
A. Professional qualification (maximum 5 marks)
| Qualification | Top grade | Middle grade | Lowest grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Education (Primary Option) | First Class: 5 | Second Class: 3 | Pass: 2 |
| Bachelor of Education (Secondary Option) with P1 | First Class: 5 | Second Class: 3 | Pass: 2 |
| Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education with P1 | Distinction: 5 | Credit: 3 | Pass: 2 |
| DPTE, UDPTE or Diploma in Education (Primary Option) | Distinction: 5 | Credit: 3 | Pass: 2 |
For the professional P1 qualification, the marks depend on PTE points: 6 to 28 points earn 5 marks, 29 to 50 points earn 3 marks, and 51 to 64 points earn 2 marks.
B. Age (maximum 20 marks)
| Age | Marks |
|---|---|
| 50 years and above | 20 |
| 47 to 49 years | 15 |
| 44 to 46 years | 10 |
| 43 years and below | 5 |
C. Length of stay since qualifying as a teacher (maximum 75 marks)
| Year of qualifying | Marks | Year of qualifying | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 and before | 75 | 2019 | 38 |
| 2011 | 70 | 2020 | 34 |
| 2012 | 66 | 2021 | 30 |
| 2013 | 62 | 2022 | 26 |
| 2014 | 58 | 2023 | 22 |
| 2015 | 54 | 2024 | 18 |
| 2016 | 50 | 2025 | 14 |
| 2017 | 46 | 2026 | 10 |
| 2018 | 42 |
Two illustrations
These examples use the score sheet values and are not real applicants. The total is A + B + C.
- A P1 teacher with 40 PTE points (3 marks), aged 45 (10 marks), who qualified in 2019 (38 marks): 3 + 10 + 38 = 51 out of 100.
- A P1 teacher with 22 PTE points (5 marks), aged 52 (20 marks), who qualified in 2014 (58 marks): 5 + 20 + 58 = 83 out of 100.
Tie-breakers and preference
If applicants tie, TSC decides in this order:
- Length of stay since graduation
- Quality of academic certificates
- Professional certificates presented
Where applicants tie on points for professional qualifications (P1, DPTE, UDPTE, Diploma in Education or Bachelor of Education), their aggregate KCSE grades or equivalent qualifications break the tie.
TSC also gives preference to applicants who have not previously been employed by the Commission on permanent and pensionable terms. Preference then follows merit, first to applicants from the respective sub-county, then from the respective county, and then from other counties.
Applicants with disabilities
TSC says at least 5% of all advertised slots are reserved for teachers with disabilities. Applicants must declare their disability status and its nature, and they are scored on a separate score sheet and merit list. Applicants with hearing and speech disabilities may be assisted by a sign language interpreter. Venues for selection must be accessible.
Documents to carry for verification
Present original and legible photocopies of:
- National identification card
- Certificate of registration as a teacher
- Your professional certificate (PTE, DPTE, UDPTE, Diploma in Education or Bachelor of Education)
- KCSE certificate or equivalent, including certificates for all attempts if you re-sat
- KCPE certificate or equivalent, including all attempts if you re-sat
- Letter of certification of results from KNEC, where applicable
- Primary and secondary school leaving certificates and other relevant testimonials
- NCPWD card, where applicable
If your names differ across certificates and your identification card, bring an affidavit sworn under the Oaths and Statutory Declarations Act (Cap. 15), explaining the variance. If you re-sat KCPE or KCSE, certified copies for all attempts are required, certified by the Sub-County Director. If an exam was cancelled, bring a letter from the head of institution and a certified KNEC printout from the school confirming the cancellation.
Documents for successful applicants
TSC requires selected applicants to provide further documents, including a signed offer of employment letter, an original medical examination report in Form GP 69, a KRA PIN certificate, bank form and bank card (front face), an NSSF card, a SHIF/SHA registration number and the signed panel score sheet.
What can disqualify you
TSC says an applicant who presents forged or fake academic, professional or other documents commits an offence and is disqualified and deregistered. An application form or offer of employment based on misleading information is cancelled immediately.
Read Also: TSC Junior School Teacher Vacancies 2026: 25 Posts Declared by County
Complaints and appeals
- Submit a written complaint to the County Director immediately, and email TSC headquarters at [email protected] not later than seven days after the selection exercise.
- The County Director has seven days from receiving a complaint to address it and report to headquarters.
- If you are dissatisfied with the County Director’s decision, appeal in writing to the Appeals Committee on staffing at TSC headquarters within seven days. The committee takes action within 14 days.
Merit lists are available to members of the public on request, in line with the Data Protection Act, 2019. Direct enquiries on the guidelines to your TSC County Director.