Anxiety grips teachers over delayed promotions as KUPPET demands reforms

Thousands of teachers are grappling with uncertainty and frustration over long-overdue promotions, sparking calls for immediate intervention from the TSC, Parliamentary Education Committee and the state.

The situation has been described as demoralizing and unjust by education stakeholders, especially for teachers who have stagnated in the same job group for over eight years despite attending multiple interviews.

Erastus Kimetu, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Chairman for Makueni County, said the delay in promotions had bred widespread anxiety, especially among aging teachers nearing retirement.

“It is impolitic and demoralizing. Many have done interviews more than three times without success. Some schools have no substantive administrators, leading to a growing debacle of teachers serving in acting capacities without proper compensation,” Kimetu said.

He lauded the government’s allocation of Sh1 billion towards teacher promotions but argued it falls short of the needs of the over 130,000 teachers awaiting upward mobility. “We appreciate the gesture, but it is grossly inadequate. The government should increase the allocation to at least KSh3 billion to cater for all deserving cases,” he said.

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Kimetu also raised concerns about the integrity of the TSC’s promotion process. He urged the commission to consider the date of employment and years of service as key benchmarks, highlighting cases where former student-teachers now hold senior grades above their former instructors.

“Promotions must not be limited to administrative positions because the number of schools is less than that of qualified teachers. Let administrators receive responsibility allowances, but allow all other teachers a fair path to advance,” he added.

The union also called for structural changes within the TSC’s grading system, recommending the merging or abolition of grades C4, D2, and D3 to streamline career progression.

Kimetu emphasized that simplifying the structure would remove unnecessary bottlenecks and accelerate upward mobility.

Teachers serving in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) also deserve special attention, according to Kimetu.

He called for the immediate introduction of a “hard-to-staff” allowance to attract and retain educators in these challenging regions.

In a sharp rebuke of the Parliamentary Education Committee, Kimetu accused lawmakers of failing to legislate decisive policies on promotions.

 “They should stop chewing water. We need clear timelines — teachers should be promoted every three years. The committee should allocate sufficient funds and defend the welfare of teachers in Parliament,” he said, calling on MPs to investigate colleagues allegedly issuing employment letters during social functions.

While the TSC has announced the promotion of 25,252 teachers, Kimetu warned that delays in issuing official letters were fostering unnecessary litigation and confusion.

 “Although two wrongs don’t make a right, the TSC must expedite the release of promotion letters. As an independent commission, it must act beyond reproach,” he concluded.

The standoff continues to raise tensions across the education sector, with unions warning that unless urgent reforms are enacted, the morale and performance of the teaching workforce may suffer irreparably.