TSC Announces Massive Teacher Recruitment Drive

As a constitutional body, the TSC is responsible for recruiting, employing, and regulating teachers in public schools across all 47 counties.

“Following the advertisement for recruitment of teachers, Regional Director, Nairobi, County Directors and Sub-County Directors are required to conduct the selection exercise for the advertised vacancy (ies),” read part of the circular.

“The Selection Panel is expected to uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability, as stipulated in the Public Officer Ethics Act, and TSC Code of Conduct and Ethics (COCE, 2015).”

The application window will remain open for fourteen (14) days from the date of advertisement.

Recruitment Eligibility and Requirements

To be eligible for recruitment, candidates must be Kenyan citizens registered with TSC under the TSC Act.

They are required to hold minimum academic qualifications;such as a P1 certificate for primary school teachers and a diploma in education for junior and secondary school teachers.

The TSC also sets standards for moral integrity, forbidding the recruitment of individuals with criminal convictions or disciplinary dismissals.

Verification of academic and professional credentials is a critical step, with only authentic documents considered valid.

Application and Verification Process

Teacher recruitment is primarily conducted through an online portal where applicants create profiles, upload documents, and submit applications for advertised vacancies.

The Commission has emphasized that only online applications submitted via the official TSC portal (www.teachersonline.go.ke) will be accepted, with a strict deadline set for December 8, 2025.

Applicants must present originals and clear photocopies of:

-National ID

-Teacher registration certificate

-Diploma/Degree certificates and transcripts

-KCSE/KCPE certificates and all attempts

-School leaving certificates and testimonials

-NCPWD card (if applicable)

-Affidavit explaining name variance

-KNEC certification letters (if applicable)

The TSC undertakes a thorough verification of all submitted documents to confirm their authenticity.

Applicants’ qualifications, registration status, and teaching experience are evaluated using a scoring system that incorporates competencies and professional development.

Qualifications for Graduate Teachers

i. Minimum KCSE mean grade C+, with C+ in two teaching subjects (or equivalents at ‘A’ Level).

ii. Eligible degree options include:

-Bachelor of Education with two teaching subjects

-Bachelor of Science/Arts + PGDE with two teaching subjects

-Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education + two teaching subjects

iii. Applicants with C plain grades at KCSE may also qualify if they have the relevant Diploma in Education or A-Level qualifications as specified.

Selection and Interview Procedures

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for document verification and interviews at least seven days in advance via SMS notifications.

Candidates must present original academic and professional certificates during verification.

Based on the scores, candidates are shortlisted for interviews conducted by panels comprising TSC officials and education experts.

Interviews assess candidates’ teaching skills, subject knowledge, and interpersonal abilities.

Candidates must appear in person for these interviews, and the selection panel verifies the authenticity of their credentials before making recommendations for appointment.

Successful applicants will be recruited on permanent and pensionable terms and should be ready to accept postings anywhere in the country regardless of interview location.

Selection criteria

In cases where teachers achieve the same aggregate scores during the selection process, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will first break the tie by considering the length of time since the applicant graduated.

If the tie persists, the strength of the candidate’s academic and professional qualifications will be reviewed.

Should the tie still remain unresolved, subject-specific grades will be used as a final tiebreaker.

Preference will be given to candidates who have never previously held permanent positions with TSC.

Next, priority is given to applicants from the relevant Sub-County, followed by those from the wider County.

Any candidate found to have submitted false or misleading information will have their application or employment cancelled immediately.

Regarding selection panels

For institutions with Boards of Management (BOMs), the panel will be composed of the Chairperson of the Board of Management as Chair, the Head of the Institution as Secretary, and members including a subject specialist, the Parent Association Chair, and the TSC Sub-County Director or their representative.

For schools without BOMs, the panel will include the TSC Sub-County Director or representative as Chair, the Head of the Institution as Secretary, along with a subject specialist and members of the Parent Association.

For Junior Secondary Schools, the panel will be chaired by the ISC Sub-County Director, with the TSC Sub-County Human Resource Officer serving as Secretary, and a Curriculum Support Officer as a member.