TSC announces over 2,000 vacancies for CBC teachers

KUPPET Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima leads union officials address media on teachers' promotion March 25, 2025 [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has declared 2,014 teaching positions vacant nationwide to address the persistent shortage in primary, junior, and senior secondary schools.

According to the TSC, these vacancies have arisen due to natural attrition and will be filled by qualified teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.

"The Teachers Service Commission is declaring 2,014 vacancies to replace teachers who have exited the service through natural attrition: 1,309 posts for primary schools, 32 for junior schools, and 673 for secondary schools," the Commission stated in a public notice.

"The recruited teachers will serve on permanent and pensionable terms."

Applicants must be Kenyan citizens and meet specific academic qualifications: a P1 certificate for primary school positions and at least a diploma in education for junior and secondary school positions.

Junior and secondary school applicants must also have scored a minimum of C+ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) or its equivalent, and must be registered with the TSC.

Applications can be submitted online through the TSC portal (www.tsc.go.ke or teachersonline.tsc.go.ke) within two weeks.

The TSC emphasized that each applicant should submit only one application; duplicate entries will result in disqualification.

"Preference will be given to candidates who have not previously been employed by the Commission," the notice added.

The Commission reiterated its commitment to fair employment practices, encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply.

Additionally, applicants were warned against fraudsters claiming to offer job placements for a fee.

This announcement comes amid a nationwide teacher shortage, especially in junior secondary schools, which are part of the Competency Based Curriculum's restructured learning path.

Since the rollout of the CBC, over one million learners have transitioned into junior secondary schools; however, this transition has not been matched by adequate staffing.

According to TSC data, there remains a deficit of 72,422 teachers across the 20,000 junior schools in the country.

"Despite these efforts, a significant teacher shortage persists in junior schools," the Commission acknowledged.

"Overcrowded classrooms, overstretched teachers, and a lack of subject specialists have hindered the proper implementation of the CBC."

In 2023, the government took steps to alleviate the pressure by converting 39,550 junior school teachers from contract to permanent positions and redeploying 8,378 primary school teachers to junior schools.