Complete Guide: TSC Promotion Process for Teachers (2026)
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Great Master
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Complete Guide: TSC Promotion Process for Teachers (2026).
The Kenyan Teacher TSC Promotion Process is a merit-based process that is based on a scoring guide and focuses on performance (TPAD), seniority, qualifications, and professional development, with recent changes to be promoted to common cadre grades (B5-C3) after three years on a merit basis and performance, whereas higher positions would require an application, merit, and interviews.
The major considerations in scoring are that the individual had high scores in TPAD, displaying a lengthy service in a grade, acting positions, academic promotion, and official assignments (KNEC, KICD).
Under Article 237 (1) of the Constitution of Kenya (2010), the Teachers Service Commission is established to carry out the entire teacher management functions which involves recruiting teachers, employing them, promoting them, transferring and assigning them to serve in the public schools.
The Commission is obligated to enforce the provisions of Article 10 and 232 of the Constitution which is the Values and Principles of Governance and the Values and Principles of Public Service in offering its mandate to advance the teachers.
The Commission Guidelines of Promotion of Teachers streamlines the processes and standards of teacher promotion within the competitive grades in the public learning institutions.
1. Types of Promotion
Automatic Promotion (Common Cadres): As from July 2025, teachers in grades B5 to C1, C1 to C2 and C2 to C3 will automatically be promoted after three years of satisfactory performance, and they will not have to face competition interviews at these levels.
Competitive Promotion (Administrative Grades): Some administrative positions such as Grade C4 or higher (e.g. Senior Master, Deputy Principal, Principal) are applied to and competed in.
Promotion by Appointment: This one is aimed at special teachers or those who fit some needs of the institution.
2. TSC Promotion Process
TSC also uses three primary channels to identify openings before any position is advertised:
Budgetary allocation - money that the government has allocated towards promotion.
Attrition - positions vacated through retirements, resignation, or exits.
Accepted position - vacancies in the staffs of TSC.
This implies that promotions are very reliant on resources and available gaps- hence time and awareness are important.
The main advertisement placements are done through the official TSC site and in mainstream newspapers. Other platforms can also be used by TSC where necessary.
3. Eligibility criteria and requirements.
A teacher has to meet the following requirements to become eligible to receive any promotion:
✓ Minimum Service: three consecutive years of service in the present grade.
✓ Performance: A good score in Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) of the past three years.
✓ Disciplinary Record: A teacher is not eligible when he has been convicted of a disciplinary offense during the past two years or an administrative warning in the past year.
✓ Integrity: Should possess the qualification of Chapter Six of the Constitution (Integrity) regarding administrative positions.
4. Competitive Grade Application Process.
Teachers have to follow the following steps when vacancies are announced:
Online:
All the applications are always done through TSC Online Portal within 14 days of the advertisement. Manual applications are no longer acceptable.
Eligibility and merit are used to shortlist the candidates in a ratio of 1:3 to the vacancy.
Shortlisted teachers would be given a minimum of seven days notice through an official invitation letter that states the date, time, venue of the interview.
5. Scoring Criteria (2026 Cycle)
Candidates are scored based on standardized scoring guides (32 grade-specific guides in the 2025/2026 cycle): during interviews, standards are graded using scoring guides:
■ Grade Length of Stay: Teachers with longer time in one grade have higher marks.
■ Educational Attainment: Degrees are more enticing to points.
■ Acting Capacity: Teachers who are already playing a role at a higher grade (e.g., acting Headteacher) are awarded extra marks.
■ Professional Assignments: Involvement in KNEC, KICD, and MOE recognition.
■ Co-curricular & Hardship: Points are given on the basis of success in sports/music and hardship service.
6. Required documents checklist
By the year 2025, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) mandates certain professional, academic, and legal materials to apply in the promotion process or verify the interview.
a. The Career and Professional Documents are required to be mandatory.
The following are necessary in demonstrating your present status and performance:
• Performance Appraisal Records (TPAD): Updated TPAD records of the concerned years.
• Professional Documents: Revised schemes of work, lesson plans, lesson observation form, and student attendance register.
• Letter of Appointment: To your present grade or T-Scale.
• Service Record: A record history of all your teaching.
b. Training Certificates and Academic Certificates.
There are original and certified copies that the teachers need to deliver:
- Certificate of Registration: Original TSC Registration Certificate.
- Primary and Secondary Certificates: KCPE and KCSE certificates (degree holders must have a minimum of C+ mean) give a certificate.
- Professional qualifications: P1 certificate qualifications and Diploma in education as well as the Bachelor of Education degrees qualifications and transcripts.
- Increasing qualifications: Masters or PhD qualification where necessary to the new grade.
c. In Chapter 6, there are statutory and compliance documents.
In order to meet the specifications of Chapter Six of the Kenyan Constitution, the applicants are required to present valid clearance by:
* Certified of Good Conduct: The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Clearance Certificate: Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission(EACC).
* Tax Compliance Certificate: Davidson by the Kenya revenue authority (KRA).
Receipt of HELB clearance: Higher Education Loans Board.
* CRB Clearance: Of a registered Credit Reference Bureau.
d. Administrative Requirements
→ National ID/ Passport: Original and a copy.
→ Curriculum Vitae (CV): Revised in accordance with new professional achievements.
→ Passport-Sized Photographs: Recent colored (at least two).
→ Letter of Recommendation: Letter of recommendation in case of competitive promotions through your institution head.
7. Final Approval and Posting
Board Approval: The ultimate choice of successful candidates is made by the TSC Board so as to achieve regional representation, gender equity and 5% quota of Persons with Disability (PWDs).
Offers Acceptance: The offer will lapse in case of failure of successful candidates to accept the offer within 30 days.
Posting: Posted administrators are advertised to places where there are vacancies.
Interview preparation tips
In order to succeed in getting a promotion interview with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), a candidate should balance not only knowledge of Kenyan education policies but also show how such theoretical knowledge can be applied in reality through performance under the Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) system.
Key Areas of Preparation
TSC Structure and Mandate: Learn the structure of the TSC, its Chairperson, CEO/Secretary and various directorates (e.g., Teacher Management, Quality Assurance).
Education Sector Knowledge: Be prepared to explain the organizational framework of the Ministry of Education, the functions of the agencies such as KNEC, KICD and Teachers Service Commission Act.
National Goals of Education: Learn the eight national goals, including nurturing nationalism, social equality, and personal fulfillment.
Professional Documents: Make sure that your TPAD scores are current in the past three years because they are highly rated in the scoring guide.
Curriculum Delivery: Be ready to discuss your teaching philosophy, technology (ICT) use into the classroom, and including strategies.
Common reasons for rejection
Most causes of a rejection/denial of a TSC teacher promotion are often personal reasons based on not meeting the certain requirements, disciplinary reasons, and structural problems such as the unavailability of the vacancy.
Causes of a rejection.
Lack of Minimum Service Requirement: One of the first criterion of promotion is a minimum of three years of service in current position and grade (however, this may be pardoned through changes in policy and advanced grades). Virtual working before meeting this time-in-grade requirement is likely to be rejected.
Unsatisfactory Performance Appraisal (TPAD): The Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) scores are among the metrics the TSC employed to promote teachers. Poor or continuously low performance appraisals may make one be ignored during promotion.
Disciplinary Matters: Teachers who are disciplined cannot get promoted. In particular, a promotion can be refused when a teacher was convicted of a disciplinary offense within a period of less than three years, or an official warning within less than two years of the application.
Absence of Vacancies: Relies on promotions, which are usually vacancy based. Although a teacher may be in full compliance with all the requirements of the merit based approach, they can still only be promoted when there is a suitable role in his or her school, the county, or even the national pool, which is greatly determined by government funding and the amount of money that is set aside to the TSC.
Incomplete or Inaccurate Documentation: Problems with the application Documents, including conflicting names on various certificates, academic history failing to satisfy the subject units or grades as required (e.g. minimum C+ in teaching subjects in secondary school) or any fraud detected in the recruitment/application process may result in rejection.
Incomplete TPD Modules: The TSC requires teachers to be involved and take part in the mandatory Continuous Professional Development (TPD) programs. Lack of taking of relevant modules may affect career advancement.
Mismatch in Qualifications/Subject Combinations: In case of post-primary institutions, the teachers must have the minimum units in their teaching subjects, and they must have the existing subjects shown on their KCSE certificate with a minimum grade. Rejection may be caused by a mismatch.
Quota System Inequality: Promotions occasionally are allocated based on a regional or county-based quota system that has also amounted to contention and criticism on the part of teacher association and MPs in that those in more populated areas may be equally eligible but have a stronger competitive edge over those in less populated areas due to limited slots.
Tips to Avoid Rejection
Keep TPAD Scores High: Maintain high quality and regular performance and proper completion of TPAD appraisals in time.
Make sure there is Documentation Accuracy: This is to ensure that all personal and professional documentation is correct and uniform. Solve any mismatch, including changes in names, with an affidavit under oath where required.
Meet Service Requirements: Under no circumstances should you be applied to positions where you fail to satisfy the minimum time-in-grade and all other specifications in the official advertisement of the TSC.
Be Disciplinarily Fit to Be: Have a clean disciplinary record, because the most recent disciplinary actions are an unmistakable promotion deterrent.
Professional Development: Deliberately enroll in and accomplish the necessary TPD modules and other pertinent professional development opportunities.
Complete Guide: TSC Promotion Process for Teachers (2026).