Non-local teachers attending TSC documents verification exercise in the ongoing replacement interviews are feeling the heat as the recruitment turns bitter taste.
This week the Commission started the vetting exercise to replace 9,159 teachers who exited service through natural attrition after inviting applicants through text messages.
However it turned out that TSC has prioritized employment of all local teachers who applied for the advertised vacancies regardless of their qualification or year of graduation.
In the replacement guidelines TSC has ordered the vetting panels headed by the TSC Sub County Directors to prioritize local applicants.
“Priority should be given to local applicants. Non-local applicants can only be considered once all local applicants have been exhausted,” read 2025/2026 recruitment guidelines.
This move automatically locks out non-local teachers despite their qualifications.
TSC ordered the Sub County selection panel to compile a Sub County merit list split into two. One for local applicants from the Sub County and another for no-local applicants.
TSC officials are however defending this move saying it aims to protect the native unemployed teachers as well as minimize transfer out.
Non-local teachers are blamed for destabilizing education as they start to seek transfer out of the County immediate after they secure employment.
In the advert, TSC declared 7,065 posts for primary schools, 12 posts for junior schools and 2,082 posts for secondary schools.
The employment is on permanent and pensionable terms to replace teachers who exited service through natural attrition.
Those qualified must be teachers registered with TSC, holding a P1 certificate in the case of primary schools and a minimum of Diploma in Education in the case of junior schools and secondary schools.
The replacement jobs have opened employment opportunity for P1 teachers who have stayed in the cold for three years without any mass employment advert from TSC.
It has also created an opportunity for junior school intern teachers to try their luck for employment on permanent and pensionable terms.
The Commission has awarded 50 marks in the scoresheet to teachers who have served on internship terms.
Despite this only local teachers will be given priority according to the scoresheet in the order of Sub County, County and Region.
The posting of the teachers to schools will start in April this year to address acute teacher shortages in schools.
The Commission has listed the academic and professional documents that must be presented to the recruitment panel for verification exercise.
Applicants are required to present original and legible photocopies of the following, among other relevant documents for verification:-
List of documents required for verification for primary school teachers
1) National identification card;
2) Certificate of Registration as a teacher;
3) Evidence of the completion of Upgrade Diploma in Primary Teacher Education or UDPTE Certificate where applicable.
4) PTE Certificate;
5) KCSE certificates or its equivalent (include certificates for attempts if one resat exam);
6) KCPE certificate or it’s equivalent (include certificates for attempts if one resat exam);
7) Letter of Certification of results by KNEC (where applicable);
8) Primary and Secondary School leaving certificates and other relevant testimonials;
9) National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) Card (where applicable);
10) An Affidavit sworn under the Oaths and Statutory Declarations Act, Cap 15 of the Laws of Kenya to explain the variance in names.
List of documents required for verification for post primary school teachers (JSS and Secondary)
a) National identification card;
b) Certificate of Registration as a teacher;
c) Diploma/Degree certificate and official transcripts;
d) KCSE certificates or its equivalent (include certificates for attempts if one re-sat exams);
e) KCPE certificate or its equivalent (include certificates for attempts if one re-sat exams);
f) Primary and Secondary School leaving certificates and other relevant testimonials;
g) National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) Card (where applicable);
h) An Affidavit sworn under the Oaths and Statutory Declarations Act, Cap 15 of the Laws of Kenya to explain the variance in names;
i) Letter of certification of results by KNEC (where applicable).
However serving intern teachers are only required to present their identity cards during the
verification process.
Persons with disabilities shall be required to indicate their disability status together with the nature of disabilities to inform their placement;
After the verification exercise, the TSC Sub-County Director shall compile a Merit List of all applicants whose documents have been verified.
TSC said the Merit Lists shall be made available to members of the public wishing to see them on request in a manner that will not jeopardize the recruitment process and in total adherence to the Data Protection Act, 2019.
