Members of Parliament have raised concern over the Teachers Service Commission’s growing budget deficit for teacher promotions, warning that insufficient funding is deepening stagnation and eroding morale across the teaching workforce. Lawmakers say the commission needs an additional Sh5 billion annually to clear the huge backlog of teachers who have remained in the same job group for years despite being eligible for advancement.
In the 2024/2025 financial year, TSC received Sh1 billion for promotions, which covered only 5,690 teachers out of more than 25,000 available promotional vacancies. TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia told the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee that the allocation was far below what is required to implement career-progression guidelines effectively.
Over the past two years, the commission has received a cumulative Sh2 billion for promotions, enabling it to promote 151,611 teachers across various job groups. However, approximately 178,871 teachers are still stuck in the same grades, a situation MPs described as unsustainable and harmful to education outcomes.
Legislators on the Education Committee argued that the current allocation is inadequate and urged the National Treasury to revise the budget. They warned that without a predictable and sufficient annual allocation, the backlog will continue to grow, weakening the teaching service and affecting the quality of learning in schools.
MPs also demanded greater transparency in the promotion process. They noted concerns that recent promotion rounds were marred by regional imbalances, with some counties receiving disproportionately fewer promotion slots. They called for clear, publicly available criteria and county-level breakdowns to ensure fairness.
Stakeholders warn that promotion stagnation has several long-term implications. Teachers who remain in the same grade for extended periods experience reduced motivation, slower career development, and weakened commitment to the profession. This increases the likelihood of attrition, as experienced educators seek better opportunities elsewhere.
Lawmakers also cautioned that leadership positions in schools may remain unfilled or be held by teachers in lower grades due to stalled progression. This could hinder effective school management and reduce instructional quality, particularly in underserved areas.
MPs have asked TSC to provide a detailed breakdown of the total funds required to clear the backlog and sustain annual promotions. They also want a structured timeline that outlines how and when the commission intends to address existing stagnation.
The call for an additional Sh5 billion per year signals a growing recognition of the critical role teacher career advancement plays in strengthening Kenya’s education system. As Parliament prepares for the next budget cycle, the pressure is mounting on the government to prioritize teacher welfare and ensure that professional growth is backed by adequate, predictable financing.
