In a landmark policy shift, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced the introduction of automatic promotions for teachers after every three years of service. This move abolishes the long-standing requirement for teachers to undergo rigorous and competitive interviews to advance to the next job group.
The announcement was made by Acting TSC Chief Executive Officer Eveleen Mitei on Monday, July 8, 2025, during the launch of the Commission’s 2024–2027 Strategic Plan in Nairobi.
The change applies to all public-school teachers under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) across Kenya. While making the announcement, Mitei revealed that the Commission has set aside Sh1 billion in the 2025/2026 financial year to facilitate the automatic promotions.
“We are committed to addressing stagnation in the teaching service. Teachers will now be able to advance to the next job group automatically every three years,” she stated. The reform is expected to benefit thousands of teachers who have remained in the same job group for years despite having met all the necessary qualifications.
The automatic promotion framework is scheduled to commence in the 2025/2026 financial year, with the initial phase starting right away. The TSC will implement the system gradually, as budget allocations are adjusted and aligned with the new structure.
The policy applies to all teachers on the TSC payroll nationwide—from early childhood development educators to primary and secondary school staff. The official announcement was made in Nairobi during the launch of the Commission’s five-year strategic plan that highlights key objectives in recruitment, training, promotion, and welfare.
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The move to eliminate interviews and introduce automatic promotions follows years of complaints from teachers over stagnation, favouritism, and a lack of transparency in the promotion process. The TSC recognised that many qualified teachers have been stuck in the same grade for over a decade without any advancement, a situation it admitted has been a major source of demoralisation within the education sector.
Mitei explained that the new model is intended to restore fairness and motivation among teachers, saying, “We are doing away with interviews for promotions. Instead, a teacher will be appraised and moved to the next grade after every three years, as long as they meet the necessary criteria.” The appraisal system will evaluate performance, discipline record, and completion of Teacher Professional Development (TPD) training.
Under the new policy, promotions will no longer require teachers to apply or appear before promotion panels. Instead, teachers will be subjected to periodic appraisals and performance evaluations conducted at the school and sub-county levels. One of the key requirements for automatic progression is the completion of mandatory TPD modules, which are now a condition for both retention and promotion in the service.
The Commission’s strategic plan also aims to align teacher promotions with the evolving demands of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). TSC emphasised that professional growth and capacity building will remain central in the new system. “We want to professionalise the teaching service and ensure our teachers are well-equipped to deliver on the CBC and 21st-century skills,” Mitei stated.
In addition to promotions, the TSC is also working to address staffing gaps, particularly in junior secondary schools, where the teacher shortage remains acute. According to the strategic plan, more than 50,000 new teachers are expected to be hired over the next two years as part of broader reforms.
The policy change has received widespread support from both teacher unions and educators. Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Collins Oyuu, in response to the announcement, hailed it as “a long overdue win for hardworking and dedicated teachers who have waited far too long for recognition.”
Through the automatic promotion policy, the TSC aims to uplift teacher morale while also attracting and retaining top talent in the profession, ultimately ensuring that learners across the country have access to quality education.
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