Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri has called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to explain why Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers have been excluded from the ongoing promotion exercise, despite the advertisement of over 34,000 vacancies for the 2026/2027 financial year.

The senator has formally requested a statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Education, highlighting that the TSC’s online application system currently only recognises teachers deployed in primary and senior secondary schools. This has effectively prevented qualified JSS teachers from applying.

Concerns Over Promotion Access

Okenyuri pointed out that while TSC has opened applications for promotions across various teaching grades, JSS teachers, many of whom meet the required qualifications, have been locked out due to the system’s deployment recognition limitations.

Senate Education Committee Involvement

The Senate committee has been tasked with investigating the rationale behind the exclusion of JSS teachers and assessing whether the approach aligns with TSC’s human resource policies and career progression frameworks.

  • Determine how many JSS teachers qualify for promotion but were unable to apply.
  • Clarify if TSC plans to update its promotion framework and online system to accommodate JSS teachers in future exercises.
  • Provide timelines for reforms and outline measures to ensure equitable access to promotions and professional growth regardless of deployment.

Context of the Promotion Exercise

The current promotion drive, one of the largest by TSC, offers 34,016 vacancies across 30 job categories, from Senior Teacher II to Chief Principal. Applications close on August 10, 2026, and selections are based on eligibility, performance, experience, and available positions.

Ongoing Challenges for JSS Teachers

The exclusion issue reflects broader challenges faced by Junior Secondary School teachers since the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) was introduced. These educators have raised persistent concerns about employment terms, deployment, career advancement, and administrative support.

Recently, JSS teachers suspended a nationwide strike after reaching a return-to-work agreement with TSC, though discussions on permanent employment and welfare continue. The Senate has previously urged the Ministry of Education and TSC to develop a clear career progression and promotion framework for JSS teachers, warning that uncertainty could hinder effective CBC implementation.