TSC faulted for lack of clear social media guidelines as it fights gag claims

TSC Ag. CEO Eveleen Mitei before Senate Education Committee in regard to a Petition on prolonged acting appointments, staffing challenges and working conditions of teachers in Samburu county ,at Bunge Towers,Parliament,Nairobi . July 30th,2026 [Elvis Ogina,Standard]

The Teachers Service Commission has been faulted for failing to provide clear guidelines to teachers on how they should navigate social media, amid growing concern over what amounts to professional conduct in the online space.

The policy has elicited mixed reactions, with teachers online raising fears that the new directive could limit their freedom of expression and expose them to disciplinary action over content shared on social media.

On Tuesday, the TSC dismissed claims that it was seeking to gag teachers, saying the guidelines were intended to provide clarity and promote order in teachers’ conduct both online and offline.

The commission said teachers, like other professionals, were expected to uphold professional standards on social media, warning that online conduct could have consequences where it breached established rules of conduct.

Speaking on Spice FM, TSC Human Resource Management and Development officer Chrisantose Odhiambo said the primary objective is to protect learners, most of whom are minors, while also shielding teachers from legal and disciplinary problems.

“The whole circular is about, number one, protecting the learner. Number two, making sure that the teacher is guarded, so that we don't have a teacher overexposing himself,” he said.

The debate follows a TSC circular issued on August 13 cautioning teachers that professional and ethical standards apply to digital spaces.

Odhiambo said the move is not a gag order, but a reminder that teachers remain bound by the law and their professional code of conduct even when using platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and other social media sites.

“You don't want a teacher posting an innocent video, imagining it is innocent, and then tomorrow you see a parent in court,” he said.

The commission says the concern has been heightened by the growing use of social media by teachers to promote businesses, share educational content, express opinions and participate in political discussions.

TSC argues that teachers, as public servants, must exercise caution when expressing political views because their conduct can affect the relationship between educators, learners and parents.

“What we have done is to draw the line on the person who has no basis to defend himself. And that is the minor,” he said.

But teachers’ representatives are calling for clearer guidelines to ensure the new directive does not become a tool for intimidation or blanket punishment.

Joseph Karuri, a KNUT teachers’ representative in Nairobi, said the union supports the TSC directive but wants the commission to define what constitutes misconduct and specify the disciplinary consequences.

“We support TSC, but there should be clear guidelines on what constitutes misconduct and what kind of disciplinary action will be taken. This will help guide teachers and ensure that they understand the consequences of their actions,” Karuri said.

He warned that without adequate safeguards, the policy could be misused by school administrators or other agents of the employer to intimidate teachers or interfere with their legitimate expression outside school.

One of the major concerns, he said, was that teachers increasingly use social media for professional development, accessing teaching resources and sharing ideas that improve lesson delivery.

“We need to have a clear guideline, not just saying this is bad and when this happens, it's misconduct and discipline is going to be taken,” he said.

The unions also want greater consultation between TSC and teachers before detailed guidelines are developed.

The debate comes at a time when social media has become an integral part of education.

Teachers use online platforms to explain difficult concepts, share learning materials, demonstrate teaching techniques and communicate with learners and parents.

At the same time, the popularity of monetised content has created new incentives for creators to produce increasingly sensational material in pursuit of followers, views and likes.

But Odhiambo warned that the rush for online popularity could lead to unprecedented consequences with teachers opting for extreme stance.

Similarly, the KNUT secretary general, Collins Oyuu, said the union supports responsible use of digital platforms but wants teachers to know where legitimate expression ends and professional misconduct begins.

''We want TSC to come clear on this circular,'' he said, urging the commission to specify which kind of conduct could attract disciplinary action.

Oyuu said social media has become an important part of modern communication and teachers should be able to use it for constructive engagement without fear that legitimate posts could be interpreted as misconduct.

His remarks came after TSC issued a circular warning teachers against cyberbullying, harassment, intimidation, offensive content and other forms of misconduct on social media.

The circular, dated August 13 reminds teachers that the professional standards expected of them also apply when they are operating online and outside the school settings.

According to the commission, teachers who engage in cyberbullying or other forms of unprofessional conduct online could face disciplinary action under the Teachers Service Commission Act, the Code of Regulations for Teachers and other relevant laws.

The directive has come at a time when social media has become an increasingly popular avenue for teachers to communicate, teach and share aspects of their professional lives.

Teachers, particularly young educators, have built audiences on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram by posting classroom content, educational material and videos showing their interactions with learners.