The Teachers Service Commission has said more than 17,000 teachers failed to secure promotions in 2023, ushering in another wait for the thousands seeking higher pay grades.
Some 28,681 teachers applied for promotions in 2023 after the commission advertised vacancies for 14,738 posts.
The TSC shortlisted 24,255 teachers and promoted 11,231. It means 17,450 teachers missed out.
The difference between the 14,738 available job posts and the 11,231 teachers who secured promotions shows 3,507 positions were not filled.
In TSC’s 2023 promotion advertisement, there were 602 available posts for Regular School Principals under job group D3.
Of the 602 posts, only 257 teachers applied for promotion. All were shortlisted and 253 were promoted.
The TSC also advertised eight positions for Special Needs Education School Principals under job group D3. Only one teacher applied for the promotion and was confirmed.
There were also 17 available posts for Deputy Principal I under job group D3. Twenty teachers applied and were all shortlisted, but only eight were promoted.
For Deputy Principal II under job group D2, the commission advertised 725 posts. Some 3,511 teachers applied for the promotions. All were shortlisted but only 362 secured the jobs.
Special Needs Education schools needed 15 Deputy Principals III under job group D1. Only eight teachers applied for the 15 posts. Two were promoted.
The TSC also sought to promote Regular School Deputy Headteachers II under job group C4. It advertised 7,720 posts for which 5,250 expressed interest and were shortlisted. From the applicants, 5,152 teachers were promoted.
Senior Master IV teachers under job group C4 had 90 available posts. Six hundred and sixty teachers applied, with 452 making the shortlist. Only 64 of them were promoted.
For Senior Teacher II under job group C2, the commission advertised 32 posts and 631 teachers submitted their applications. Some 177 teachers were shortlisted and 22 got promoted, leaving 10 posts open.
The TSC also advertised 195 posts for Deputy Head Teacher II under job group C4. Some 372 teachers submitted their applications and were shortlisted but only 126 were promoted.
For Senior Teacher II, the commission advertised 284 posts and received 1,751 applications. The TSC shortlisted 1,450 applicants and promoted 195.
The TSC noted in its 2022-23 report that despite immense support from the national government in filling staffing gaps, teacher shortage still posed a great challenge.
“As at June 30, 2023, the shortage was 111,870 (primary 45,918 and secondary 65,952 ). There is a need to lobby for additional budgetary allocation from the government to recruit additional teachers,” the TSC said.
Further, the commission said teacher promotion was guided by the Career Progression Guidelines for Teachers ( 2018 ) that provide for common cadre establishment and competitive promotion.
“These promotions are dependent on budgetary provisions and availability of vacancies,” the commission said.
The TSC said in the 2022-23 academic year, the commission promoted 11,231 teachers through competitive selection and 11,069 through common cadre establishments.
The Star spoke to a number of teachers who said the commission interviews candidates for promotions every three years.
“Sometimes the government stays longer than three years before advertising for promotions. But it usually depends on the funds they have,” one teacher said.
Teachers on the TSC roll are automatically promoted after the first three years of service. After the first promotion, a teacher has to apply whenever there is an advertisement to get to a higher pay grade.
Those that fail to secure promotions have to wait till the next round of applications advertised by the commission.
TSC chief Nancy Macharia said the number of teachers required this year in junior school is 99,045 against the current 56,928 tutors.
She said the government would fund the commission to recruit more teachers until optimum staffing levels are achieved.
Speaking in January during the release of the 2023 KCSE results, Macharia said in the next financial year, TSC has requested funds for additional 20,000 teachers.
“In recognition of the good work by our teachers, the commission has been funded and is in the process of promoting 36,505 teachers to the different grades. Of these vacancies, 17,914 will be filled by primary school teachers while 18,591 belong to post primary,” she said.
