TSC, unions eye reforms to break teachers' promotion stagnation

Promotion of teachers could be headed for reforms as Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and unions embark on a plan to address job stagnation in the profession.

The Sunday Standard has learned that plans are underway to eliminate some job groups under the TSC structure, a move that would drastically change the promotions plan.

Among the proposed changes is the removal of job group B5, the entry-level grade for primary school teachers.

It also emerged that Job Group C5, which applies to secondary school teachers serving as Senior Master III, may also be scrapped. Teachers in this category often act as deputy principals when vacancies arise.

The reforms also propose annual salary increments for chief principals in secondary schools once they reach the highest job group. Currently, chief principals are in Job Group D5, the highest level under the TSC classification.

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If adopted, the changes will streamline teachers’ career progression and address stagnation in promotions.

The least-paid teacher, who currently earns Sh23,830 in job group B5, would start at Sh29,787, which is the pay for teachers in job group C1.

Also proposed is to de-tangle teacher promotions from administrative roles.

According to Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), teachers currently are only promoted to administrative positions, leaving no progression for those who want to remain in classroom teaching.

The proposals, supported by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Kuppet, will be part of the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The CBA guides teachers’ welfare and pay agreements.

More radical proposals to scrap the promotion model adopted in 2018, known as the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), have been rejected by TSC.

Primary school heads may also benefit, with a proposal to expand their promotion ceiling to match that of secondary school heads.

Currently, primary school heads can only rise to job group D1. The proposed changes would allow them to progress to job group D5, the Chief Principal level.

Knut secretary general Collins Oyuu said this has stagnated primary school heads at the D1 job group for years as they cannot advance under the current arrangement.

If implemented, the highest-paid primary school head, who now earns Sh96,381, could earn up to Sh162,539.

“School heads now oversee both primary and junior secondary schools. Some have advanced their qualifications, and we want their promotion ceiling opened up to the highest job group,” Oyuu said.

The proposals were made by a technical committee formed in 2023. The committee includes members from TSC, Knut, and Kuppet.

Efforts to revise the CPG, which has been in place since 2018, have stalled due to disagreements between TSC and the unions. Teachers say the CPG has caused stagnation, limiting career advancement.

“These changes are long overdue. We have been advocating for a fair and transparent system that recognizes teachers’ hard work and provides meaningful career progression,” Oyuu said.

Kuppet Chairman Omboko Milemba criticised the CPG, saying it has left experienced teachers unable to qualify for deputy headteacher roles.