TSC declares over 2,000 teaching posts vacant in bid to fill staffing gaps

Over 2,000 teaching posts across primary, junior and secondary schools have been declared vacant by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), following natural attrition.

The move is aimed at addressing the ongoing staffing shortages that have been affecting the smooth running of schools and the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

The TSC has announced that a total of 2,014 vacancies will be filled, with 1,309 positions allocated for primary schools, 32 for junior schools and 673 for senior secondary schools. The teachers hired will serve on permanent and pensionable terms of service.

“The Teachers Service Commission is declaring 2,014 vacancies to replace teachers who exited service through natural attrition, i.e., 1,309 posts for primary schools, 32 posts for junior schools, and 673 posts for secondary schools. The teachers recruited will serve on permanent and pensionable terms of service,” the TSC said in a notice.

To qualify for the advertised positions, the Commission said applicants must be Kenyan citizens. For primary school vacancies, they must hold a P1 certificate, while candidates for junior and secondary school positions must have at least a diploma in education, with a minimum grade of C+ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) or its equivalent. Additionally, applicants must have registered with the Teachers Service Commission.

Candidates interested in applying for the vacancies have been urged to submit their applications online through the TSC website, www.tsc.go.ke, or at teachersonline.tsc.go.ke by Monday, May 19, 2025, at midnight.

The recruitment is governed by the Teachers Service Commission Recruitment Guidelines for the 2024/2025 financial year (Circular No. 19/2024 and No. 20/2024).

According to TSC, shortlisted candidates will be required to present original academic and professional certificates. Successful candidates will also be required to submit only one application form, as submitting multiple forms will lead to disqualification.

“Manual applications will not be considered, and preference will be given to applicants who have not been previously employed by the TSC,” the Commission said.

TSC emphasised that it is an equal opportunity employer and encouraged persons with disabilities (PWDs) to apply. It also warned applicants against fraudsters who may attempt to extort money in exchange for helping them secure positions, stressing that the recruitment process is free of charge.

“Anyone who encounters fraudulent activity should report it to the nearest TSC office, the TSC headquarters, or the police,” the Commission said.

A significant challenge remains in public primary schools that host junior secondary students, following the transition of more than one million learners to Grade 9 under the CBC.

Last year, the government converted 39,550 junior school teachers from contract to permanent terms, while an additional 8,378 primary school teachers were redeployed to teach in junior schools following the upgrades. Despite these efforts, however, there is still a teacher shortage in the 20,000 junior schools, with TSC data showing a deficit of 72,422 tutors.

Overcrowding

The shortage of staff has led to overcrowded classrooms, overstretched teachers and a lack of subject specialists required for effective CBC implementation.

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• 000 teaching posts vacant in bid to fill staffing gaps

The CBC, which began rolling out in 2018, divides elementary education into pre-primary and primary education, taking two and six years, respectively. The new structure means that the final class in primary school is Grade 6, after which learners transition to junior secondary, from Grade 7 to Grade 9.

“Despite these efforts, a biting teacher shortage persists in the 20,000 junior schools, with TSC data showing a deficit of 72,422 tutors. The shortage of staff in schools has resulted in overstretched teachers, overcrowding in classrooms, and a lack of subject specialists required for proper implementation of the CBC,” the commission added.

The recruitment drive comes on the heels of demands from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) for the TSC to prioritise higher academic credentials during the teacher recruitment process, instead of relying solely on candidates’ Form Four results.

KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu decried that many qualified individuals are being unfairly locked out of the teaching profession despite having attained higher academic qualifications, such as degrees and master’s degrees.

He said the current criteria, where one must have scored at least a C (plain) in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education to qualify for recruitment as a diploma teacher, was outdated and discriminatory against those who have since advanced academically.