The Teachers Service Commission has embarked on the transfer of more than 8,000 primary school teachers to different institutions across the country.
Under the leadership of outgoing CEO Nancy Macharia, the commission is relocating teachers as part of its staff balancing initiative to address staffing imbalances across schools.
This is being done to resolve the issue of some schools having too many teachers while others have too few.
The exercise is expected to conclude by February, with teachers settling into their new postings by the end of the month.
TSC has instructed County and Sub-County Directors to finalize the teacher balancing matrix quickly in order to identify new exits and additions for areas with a shortage of teachers.
The reallocation of teachers was triggered by an oversupply of 18,057 primary school teachers following the removal of two classes under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
In addition, the TSC will hire new staff in February and March this year, to replace 8,707 teachers who exited due to natural attrition.
There are 5,862 vacancies for primary schools, 21 for junior schools, and 2,824 for secondary schools, all which the TSC is aiming to fill by then.
The Commission is currently completing the document verification process for prospective teachers ahead of their deployment.
For primary school teachers, the following documents are required:
1. National identification card
2. Certificate of Registration as a teacher
3. Evidence of an Upgrade Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (UDPTE), if applicable
4. PTE Certificate
5. KCSE certificates or their equivalents (including re-sit certificates, if applicable)
6. KCPE certificates or their equivalents (including re-sit certificates, if applicable)
7. Letter of Certification of Results by KNEC, where necessary
8. Primary and secondary school leaving certificates
9. National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) card, if applicable
10. Sworn affidavit explaining discrepancies in names, if needed
As for post-primary school teachers, TSC requires:
a) National identification card
b) Certificate of Registration as a teacher
c) Diploma/Degree certificates and transcripts
d) KCSE and KCPE certificates (or their equivalents, including re-sit documentation)
e) Primary and secondary school leaving certificates
f) National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) card, if applicable
g) Sworn affidavit explaining discrepancies in names
h) Letter of Certification of Results by KNEC, where applicable
Serving intern teachers are only required to present their identity cards during the verification process.
In June 2024, former Education CS Mr. Ezekiel Machogu emphasized that as part of its mandate to transfer and post teachers, the TSC must “ensure the equitable distribution and optimal utilization of teachers across all public basic education institutions, so that learners nationwide have access to quality education, as outlined in Article 43 of the Constitution.”
“Teachers who wish to be considered for transfer from one institution to another must submit a request. The transfer of teachers from one institution to another will be guided by the need for equitable distribution and optimum utilisation of teachers,” the former CS said.
Other transfer criteria include the availability of vacancies in the proposed station, the need for replacement, existing staffing norms, medical reasons or other reasons that the TSC may consider.
In addition, performance assessments, requests from teachers for career growth, the proximity of the new posting to the teacher’s current location, the need to address disciplinary issues, or any other considerations deemed necessary by the TSC can influence a transfer decision.
