Teachers in C1, C2 and C3 Grades Set for Automatic Promotions Under New TSC Plan.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has commenced stakeholder consultations on the review of the Career Progression Guidelines (CPGs), marking a significant step in the ongoing reform of teacher career advancement structures in Kenya.
The consultative process was officially launched on June 9, 2026, during a stakeholder engagement forum held at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE). The meeting brought together teacher representatives from across the country, Curriculum Support Officers (CSOs), TSC directors, members of senior management, and other stakeholders within the education sector.
According to the Teachers Service Commission, the review seeks to update the existing Career Progression Guidelines introduced in 2016. The Commission stated that the revision is intended to align career advancement frameworks with current professional requirements, technological developments, and socio-economic changes affecting the education sector.
Speaking during the forum, Acting Chief Executive Officer Eveleen Mitei stated that the review process is aimed at strengthening systems that support teacher career growth and professional development. She noted that stakeholder participation would play a critical role in shaping the revised framework.
TSC Chairperson Jamleck Muturi, who presided over the engagement, stated that the revised guidelines are intended to establish clear and merit-based career pathways for teachers. He indicated that the framework would focus on recognising professional performance, academic qualifications, competencies, and career potential while addressing barriers that have affected career progression within the teaching service.
The Commission revealed that views collected during the consultative process will be incorporated into the final Career Progression Guidelines to ensure that the framework remains practical, responsive, and aligned with emerging expectations within the education sector.
The review comes amid longstanding concerns regarding career stagnation among teachers. Reports indicate that some teachers have remained in the same job group for extended periods, with cases of delays in promotion stretching up to three decades.
In May 2026, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) called upon the Teachers Service Commission to declare promotion vacancies for approximately 135,000 teachers who were reportedly experiencing stagnation in their current grades.
As part of the proposed reforms, the Teachers Service Commission has outlined plans to introduce a three-year promotion cycle. Under the proposed arrangement, teachers who meet prescribed performance and competency standards would be eligible for progression through various career levels, with the possibility of attaining senior positions within a period of 16 to 18 years.
The Commission has also proposed automatic promotions for teachers serving in grades C1, C2 and C3. The proposal covers primary school teachers, secondary school teachers, teachers serving in special needs education institutions, and educators holding Lecturer I positions. Eligibility would be based on completion of the required period of service and satisfactory performance assessments.
Further proposals contained in the review include restructuring the current grading framework. The existing grading system, which ranges from B5 (Primary Teacher II) to D5 (Chief Principal), is expected to be replaced by a six-level career structure.
Read Also: TSC Citizen’s Service Delivery Charter: Costs, and Timelines
Under the proposed framework, promotion decisions would be based primarily on professional competence, teaching experience, academic qualifications, and performance outcomes. The Commission indicated that this would represent a departure from the current system, where promotions are largely influenced by the availability of vacancies and administrative considerations.
The review process is taking place alongside government plans to promote more than 30,000 teachers before the end of 2026. The implementation of the promotions is expected to depend on the allocation of KSh2 billion by the National Treasury in the 2026/2027 Financial Year.
The Teachers Service Commission stated that the ongoing consultations will inform the development of revised Career Progression Guidelines intended to support structured, transparent, and merit-based career advancement within the teaching profession.
Teachers in C1, C2 and C3 Grades Set for Automatic Promotions Under New TSC Plan.
