The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has introduced a transformative policy that will see teachers promoted automatically every three years, doing away with interviews for common cadre promotions.

The commission says the move marks a significant shift in the management of career progression for educators in Kenya.

According to the new guidelines, teachers will no longer be required to apply or attend interviews for promotions from Grade B5 to C1, C1 to C2, and C2 to C3. Instead, promotions will be based strictly on merit, experience, and performance evaluations conducted periodically by TSC.

“This new approach seeks to address long-standing concerns over stagnation in one job group and the perceived lack of transparency in the previous promotion process. Many teachers had voiced frustrations over delays, limited promotion opportunities, and the stress of interviews.” TSC said.

The policy is designed to provide a structured and predictable career growth path for teachers across the country, applying to educators with P1 certificates, diplomas, and degree qualifications, who the commission confirms will automatically move to the next level as long as they meet the required performance standards and have served the minimum three years in a given grade.

TSC has emphasized that performance appraisals and teacher professionalism will remain central to the new promotion structure.

“Teachers will be expected to uphold high standards of discipline, punctuality, instructional delivery, and learner outcomes,” the commission stated.

The move has been welcomed by many in the teaching fraternity, who see it as a step towards fairness and motivation within the profession, as it is expected to boost morale among classroom teachers who form the backbone of Kenya’s education system.