The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has unveiled new guidelines for the 2025/26 promotion cycle, prioritizing seniority, age, and professional contribution.
Teachers aged 57 and above are set to benefit most, with the scoring system rewarding length of service and accumulated experience.
“To promote consistency, fairness and transparency, the commission has developed 32 grade-specific scoring guides, which shall be used in the 2025/26 financial year promotion cycle,” the guidelines state.
This comes after TSC announced 24,000 promotional slots across various grades. According to the new scoring sheet, a 57-year-old teacher who has served in the same job group for seven years will automatically secure most points, giving them a strong advantage over younger colleagues.
By comparison, teachers aged 41 and below will earn only 10 marks in the age category, while their 57-year-old counterparts will receive 50.
The framework also gives weight to professional qualifications, Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) ratings, and additional responsibilities such as serving as KNEC examiners, CBC trainers, or mentors under Teacher Induction Mentorship and Coaching (Timec). Teachers who have contributed to KICD and Cemastea will also score extra marks.
Academic qualifications carry less weight, with PhD holders earning five marks, followed by master’s and bachelor’s degree holders. TPAD ratings will contribute up to 10 marks, with teachers averaging 81 per cent or above over three years scoring full marks.
The largest share of marks, 50, comes from the length of stay in one job group. For instance, three years in the same grade earns 10 marks, with more points awarded for longer service.
For top administrative roles such as Chief Principal (Grade D5/T-Scale 15), the new scoring applies equally to senior principals, principals, deputy principals, headteachers, and senior lecturers.
TSC has defended the new structure, saying it is grounded in fairness, meritocracy, and transparency. The commission has also urged teachers living with disabilities to apply, confirming that affirmative action will apply.
Education experts, however, warn that younger teachers could struggle under the new system, despite strong academic qualifications.
President William Ruto has assured tutors in arts, drama, sports, and music that 850 slots are reserved for them in the promotions.
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