School heads lose powers to appoint senior teachers, senior masters

School heads lose powers to appoint senior teachers, senior masters
Appointment for a deputy headteacher

School Headteachers and Principals will no longer appoint teachers to be senior teachers or senior masters in their schools.

The school heads will also not have powers to appoint who to deputize him/her in the school.

Unlike in the past when school heads would recommend teachers to be senior teachers and deputy school heads who would then get automatic promotion, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has made changes to appointment of school administrators.

According to the new changes schools heads will have to wait for senior teachers, senior masters or deputy headteachers to be posted to their school.

However TSC will confirm all school administrators in acting capacity from year 2017. Most of those who were in acting capacity have already been confirmed and are now serving in their new grade.

In September this year the Commission advertised 2,419 promotional vacancies for teachers in primary and secondary schools.

TSC advertised vacancies for Principals, Deputy Principals, Senior Teacher, Senior Master, Deputy Headteacher, Secondary Teacher, Primary Teacher and Curriculum Support Officers.

Some vacancies were reserved for teachers in hard to staff areas and Arid Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL).

While advertising the posts, TSC chief executive Nancy Macharia said there are vacancies for secondary school teachers, senior masters and deputy principals, primary school teachers, senior teachers, deputy headteachers and headteachers in counties classified as dry.

She said the promotion of teachers in Asal regions is part of the promise made by the commission in the 2021-25 collective bargaining agreement.

Teachers in Asal regions holding the posts have being serving in acting capacity for more than three years.

Schools in the regions have been experiencing an acute teacher shortage due to insecurity.

Many teachers posted to these regions seek transfer shortly after.

The Commission interviewed 1,376 teachers holding positions of Heads and Deputy Heads of institutions in ASAL and Hard to Staff areas who were seeking promotions.

A number of teachers are also being moved from primary to secondary school to handle junior secondary students ahead of the rollout in 2023.

TSC conducted promotion interviews for the 2,419 shortlisted teachers between 1st to 12th November 2021 at the Regional and County offices.

“This is on affirmative action to grow teachers progressively,” said TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia.

The promotions are in line with the career progression guidelines, which came into effect in 2018 after signing of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) 2017 – 2021 between TSC and teachers unions.

TSC had centralized promotion function for teachers. However from 13th February 2020 the Commission decentralized the promotion functions for school administrators in line with CPG.

TSC delegated the duty to TSC Regional and County Directors.

Interviews for the 1,995 interns some 1,038 for primary and 957 for secondary schools will also be conducted this month.

The newly promoted teachers will be posted to teach in new stations. TSC paused delocalization policy for newly promoted school administrators.

During application applicants were required to upload the following documents. The documents were required to be valid during application period;

a) Letter of appointment to the current grade

b) Letter of appointment to the current responsibility

c) Certificate of good conduct from Directorate of Criminal Investigations

d) Clearance certificate by Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)

e) Clearance application from Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission

f) Clearance certificate from a Credit Reference bureau

g) Tax compliance certificate from Kenya Revenue Authority

However, from this month, teachers will no longer be required to submit these documents unless an offer of employment is guaranteed.

This is after Members of Parliament supported the Employment Amendment Bill where jobseekers will no longer be required to issue clearance certificates.

The bill was sponsored by nominated Member of Parliament (MP) Gideon Keter.

In a statement, Keter said that the move was a cure to many jobless seekers who are engaged in the struggle of getting certificates before they can attend any interviews.

“The solution to all these bottlenecks is that an employer will no longer ask job seekers for such documents as KRA, DCI, HELB, CRB & EACC clearance certificates until or unless an offer of employment is guaranteed,” he said.

In addition teachers applying for promoton were also required to have obtained a satisfactory rating in the performance appraisal process i.e. TPAD;

In the last one year, the commission has promoted more than 100,000 teachers in line with the 2017-21 collective bargaining agreement that expired on June 30.

Among them are 15,407 teachers who were interviewed in December 2020 and February this year.

The other 99,078 were elevated under the common cadre established, while 712 teachers and institutional administrators in 10 Asal regions rose on the basis of affirmative action, the commission says.

A total of 115,197 classroom teachers, senior teachers, deputy headteachers, headteachers, curriculum developers, deputy principals and principals have been promoted in a year.

“The collective bargaining agreement granted all cadres of teachers a common promotion after serving for three years in the entry grades,” reads Teacher’s Image, a magazine produced by the commission.

P1 teachers at job group B5 were promoted to job group C1, diploma certificate holders in job group C1 were promoted to job group C2 while degree certificate holders in job group C2 were promoted to job C3.

“The promotions are a departure from the past where P1 teachers entered and retired from service in the same grade,” the TSC said.

“This is an indication of the commission’s commitment to cater for the professional growth of teachers by a clear career path for the worker.”

According to the career progression guidelines, a teacher must have served in their current job group for three years.

TSC GUIDELINES FOR APPOINTMENT OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

APPOINTMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS

Pursuant to section 20 of the TSC Act, and in view of the Commission’s strategic pillar on re-engineering of its processes as per the current Strategic  Plan, the Commission has directed that the Appointment and Deployment of the following institutional Administrators be decentralized and be coordinated by the Regional Director.

i. All Primary Schools Institutional Administrators.

ii. All Institutional Administrators for County, Sub-County and Day Secondary Schools.

The Commission has developed Guidelines to enable you effectively discharge this function.

The Guidelines should be read together with the Commission’s Policy on Appointment and Deployment of Institutional Administrators, Career Progression Guidelines for Teachers, the Code of Regulations for Teachers and other regulations governing the teaching service.

This is a sensitive assignment that requires your individual supervision  and coordination. You are expected to ensure  that the exercise is carried out in a transparent and accountable manner.

The Guidelines take effect from 13 February, 2020. The provisions of the Code of Regulations for Teachers will continue to apply.

1.0    INTRODUCTION

1.1    The Commission is required to  facilitate  career progression  and professional development of teachers,  including the appointment of Institutional Administrators as  per the Kenya Constitution, the TSC Act 2012 and the Code of Regulations for Teachers.

1.2    In  this regard, the Commission reviewed its Policy on Appointment and Deployment of Institutional Administrators.

The policy has also been aligned with the Job Evaluation Report (2016) which focused on the worth of every job in the teaching service.

1.3    The functions of the Regional Director are to coordinate and supervise the appointment and deployment of Institutional Administrators in the region. In this regard Regional Director shall:•

1. 3. 1  Chair the regional selection panel responsible for the appointment and deployment of institutional administrators for county, sub – county and day secondary schools’ administrators

1. 3 .2 Ensure that the process of selection, appointment and deployment is transparent and accountable;

1.3.3 Supervise County selection panels in the entire process of appointment and deployment of institutional administrators.

1.4  The County Director shall coordinate the appointment  and deployment of primary school administrators in the county. To do so, the County Director shall:

1. 4. 1 Chair the county selection panel responsible for the appointment and deployment of institutional  administrators  at primary school level;

1.4.2 Ensure that the process of selection, appointment and deployment is transparent and accountable.

1.5    These guidelines are intended to compliment the provisions of the Policy on Appointment  and  Deployment of Institutional Administrators and should be read together with  other policies  and regulations governing the teaching service.

1.6     In execution  of this role, the Regional Directors  shall be responsible to the Director in charge of Staffing.

1. 7    The appointment and deployment of the Principals of Extra County and national secondary  schools, post-secondary institutions  together with other senior administrative posts in institutions of learning, not mentioned herein will be the responsibility of the Director.

1.8    In undertaking this assignment, the County Directors shall be guided by the Hand Book on Decentralized Teacher Management Functions, August 2015

2.0    OBJECTIVE OF THE GUIDELINES

2.1     General objective

The overall objective of the guidelines is to promote efficiency in the appointment and deployment of institutional administrators to public schools through a competitive selection and appointment as well  as   identifying suitable and timely provision of institutional administrators.

2.2      Specific objectives

The specific objectives are to;

2.2.1  Implement the framework for the appointment and deployment of institutional administrators in the teaching service as per the Commission’s policy and regulations;

2.2.2 Guide the field staff in the process of appointment and deployment of Institutional Administrators;

2.2.3  Ensure that the appointment, selection and deployment of Institutional Administrators is standard  across the country.

3.0   OVERALL GUIDELINES

In undertaking the assignment, the Regional Directors should take note of the following:

3. 1    That appointment and deployment of Institutional Administrators is undertaken in strict conformity with the provisions of the Constitution of Kenya, the TSC  Act, the Code of Regulations for Teachers, the Policy on Appointment and Deployment of Institutional Administrators and the Teacher Career Progression Guidelines;

3.2    Institutional Administrators comprises of the Principal, Deputy Principal, Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher, Dean, Registrar, Senior Master and Senior Teacher.

3.3    Any matter relating to appointment and deployment of institutional administrators not specifically provided for under the guidelines are addressed through consultations with the Director in charge of Staffing.

3.4    In as much as this duty has been  delegated, the Director Staffing may still exercise and  do the appointment and deployment of institutional administrators as provided by the policy as well as address  any appeal against the decision of the Regional Directors.

3.5    Institutional Administrators are selected competitively appointed and remunerated commensurately.

3.6    All serving Institutional Administrators are substantively appointed and placed in institutions that commensurate to their grades;

3.7    Teachers who were converted to Administrative grades as at 1st July, 2017 be given the first priority and deployed appropriately as vacancies arise.

3.8    Notwithstanding any other provision in the policy of appointment and deployment of institutional  administrators, the Commission reserves the right to transfer an administrator from one institution to another regardless of the number of years served in the station.

3.9    Pursuant to the provisions of section 46 of the TSC Act, teachers have the right to appeal against  the decisions made by the panel.  

Such appeals should be made to the Regional Director in writing and a copy sent to the Commission  Secretary not later  than fourteen (14)  days after the exercise.

3.10  The Regional Director shall analyze and address all complaints raised immediately and advise the Commission Secretary.

3.11   Upon conclusion of the process and selection of suitable candidates, the County Directors shall:

3.11.1  Issue appointment/deployment letters to successful candidates for primary schools;

3.11.2  Ensure that the Institutional administrators report for duty and handing over/taking over exercise is properly done;

3. 12  The Regional Director shall issue appointment/deployment  letters  to all successful candidates for Secondary Schools.

Attached are the appendices for use during the appointment and selection exercise.

APPENDIX  1:

IDENTIFICATION, SELECTION AND DEPLOYMENT PROCESS OF INSTITUTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS

1.0    The following procedures will apply in the identification, selection and deployment of institutional administrators: –

1. 1        Establishment of vacancies by the County Directors;

1.2       The TSC HQs shall advertise existing vacancies;

1.3       Interested candidates shall submit applications online;

1.4      The fist  of shortlisted applicants shall be released to the Regional Directors in accordance with guidelines Issued by the Commission;

1. 5     The Regional Directors shall conduct interviews for shortlisted applicants in liaison with the County Directors;

1.6     The Regional  Directors  (in liaison with  the County Directors) shall appoint, deploy successful candidates as well as communicate results to the interviewed candidates;

1.7     A merit list and copies of appointment letters will be submitted to the Secretary, Teachers Service Commission;

1.8     The Regional Directors shall be held personally responsible for the process.

NB It is the responsibility of the TSC Regional Directors to ensure that the exercise is fair and transparent.

2.0    The following considerations shall be made during the deployment of institutional administrators:

2.1       Category of institution

2.2      Size and level of enrolment

2.3      Academic and professional qualifications

2.4      Current grade

2.5      Relevant experience in the teaching service

2.6      Gender balance

2. 7      Any other criteria the Commission may deem appropriate

APPENDIX 11: STAFFING LEVELS

The tables’ shows number of administrators required per school/institution

Table 1: Deputy Head Teachers and Senior Teachers of Primary Schools as per the Establishment

Stream/sClassesMaximum EnrolmentEstablishmentDeputy Head TeachersSenior Teachers
18400911
2168001712
32412002522
43216003323
54020004124
64824004924
75628005725
86432006526
97236007327
108040008128

Notes

I.        Establishment of primary  schools  is  based  on a  minimum teaching  load  of 35 lessons  per week and a maximum  class size of 50 learners.

ii.      The Establishment per school includes the Head teacher,  Deputy Head Teacher/sand Senior Teacher/s.

iii.      Where  there  are  two Deputy  Head  Teachers  In  a  school,  one shall  be  responsible  for academics and the other administration.

Table 2: Deputy Principals & Senior Masters of secondary schools as per Curriculum Based Establishment (CBE)

Stream/sClassesMaximum EnrolmentCBEDeputy Principal/sSenior Master/s
14180911
283601912
3125402814
4167203815
5209004715
62410805526
72812606326
83214406827
93616207627
104018008527
114419809328
1248216010129

Notes

I.       CBE  based on minimum teaching load of 27 lessons per week and maximum  class size of 45 students.

Ii.      The CBE per school Includes the Principal, Deputy Principal/s and Senior Master/s.

iii.      Where  there  are two Deputy  Principals  in  an  Institution,  one shall  be responsible  for Academics and the other Administration.

Table 3: Deputy Principals and Senior Masters of Teacher Training Colleges-TTCs (Certificate & Diploma) as per the CBE

EnrollmentDeputy
Principals
Senior MastersDean of StudentsRegistrar
Upto 1,0001511
Between  1,001 and 1,5002811
Above 1,50021111

Table 5: Programme Coordinators of Center for Mathematics, Science and Technology in Africa (CEMASTEA)  as per the CBE

S/No     Programme Coordinators

1.    Training Coordinator JCT

2.     Training Coordinator-Special Programmes

3.    Training Coordinator-Secondary

4.     Training Coordinator — Primary

5.    Training Coordinator- Research &  Development

6.      Training Coordinator- Partnership & Linkages

Table 4: Positions of Senior Master/s in Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) as per the CBE

S/No  Senior Master/s
1.      Disabilities Studies
2.      Research and Educational Resources
3.    Functional Assessment and Guidance and Counseling
4.      Distance learning and CPD Programmes
5.   Quality Assurance and Standards
6.    Teaching Practice Coordinator

ESTABLISHMENT OF SENIOR TEACHERS/ MASTERS IN PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

Secondary schools and  tertiary institutions shall have Senior Masters  to head the following departments

Table 5: Positions of Senior Teachers in Primary Schools

S/No             Senior Teachers

1                    Social Studies, Technical & Creative Arts

2                   Science and Mathematics

3                    Languages

4                    Boarding

5                   Co-Curricular Activities

6    Guidance and Counseling/Careers

7                   Quality Assurance and Standards (QAS)

8  Academic/Mentorship

Table 6: Senior Teachers in Primary Schools with Special Needs

S/No    Senior Teachers

1.       Social Studies, Technical & Creative Arts

2.      Science and Mathematics

3.       Languages

4.       Boarding

5.      Co-Curricular Activities

6.   Guidance and Counseling/Careers

7.      Quality Assurance and Standards (QAS)

8.      Academic/Mentorship

Table 7: Senior Masters – Secondary Schools (this also applies to SNE-Secondary Schools)

S/No     Senior Master

1            Humanities

2          Science and Mathematics

3           Languages

4          Technical & Creative Arts

5           Boarding

6          Co-Curricular Activities

7         Guidance and Counseling/Careers

8  Quality Assurance and Standards (QAS)

9         Academic/Mentorship

Table 8: Senior Masters In TTCs (Certificate and Diploma)

S/No – Senior Masters

1.   Education

2.   Sciences and Mathematics

3.    Social Sciences

4.   Languages

5.  Creative Arts

6.  Guidance and Counselling

7.    Co-Curricular Activities

8.  Quality Assurance and Standards (QAS)

9.   Boarding

10.  Teaching Practice

11.  Academic/Mentorship

Table 8: Establishment or Administrative Positions In CEMASTEA

PositionNumberT-Scale
Director1T15
Deputy Director1T14
Dean of Studies1T13
Program Coordinators6T12

Table 9: Establishment of Administrative Positions In KISE

PositionNumberT- Scale
Director1TtS
Deputy Director2T14
Dean1T13
Registrar1T13
Senior Masters5T10-T12

APPENDIX III: APPOINTMENT AND DEPLOYMENT GUIDELINES

1.0 Qualification and experience required of administrators of Post  Primary Institutions

In addition to the requirements for appointments In the policy, Institutional Administrators will be appointed based on the criteria outlined   in the tables below:

Table 10: Principals of Secondary Schools

Category    Grade   Experience
Sub  County & All Day SchoolsPrincipal T- Scale 13 Served as Deputy Principal at T-Scale 12 or in an equivalent position for a minimum period of three (3) years
County SchoolsSenior Principal T-Scale 14Served  as a  Principal  at T-Scale   13  or In  an equivalent position for a minimum period of three (3) years
 National and Extra County SchoolsChief Principal T-Scale  15Served as a Senior Principal at T-Scale 14 or in an equivalent position for a minimum period of three (3) years

Table 11: Deputy Principals of Secondary Schools

Category  GradeExperience
 Sub  County & AII Day Schools Deputy Principal  III/IV T- Scale  10/11Served at T-Scale 9/10 or In an equivalent position  for a minimum period of three (3) years
County SchoolsDeputy Principal II T-Scale  12Served as a Deputy Principal at T-Scale 11 or In  an equivalent position  for  a minimum   period of three (3) years
National & Extra County SchoolsDeputy Principal  L T- Scale 13Served as a Deputy  Principal at T-Scale  12 or In  an equivalent position  for  a minimum  period

Table 12: Senior Masters of Secondary Schools

CategoryGradeExperience
Sub-County  & All Day SchoolsSenior Master 111/]V T- Scale  10/9Served  as a teacher  at T-Scale 9/8  or In  an equivalent position for a minimum period of three ( 3) years
County SchoolsSenior Master II T-Scale  11Served  as a Senior Master Ill at T-Scale 10 or In  an  equivalent  position  for a  minimum   period of three (3) years
National & Extra County SchoolsSenior Master I T-Scale  12Served  as a Senior Master ll at T-Scale  11 or In an equivalent position  for a minimum  period  of three (3) years

Table 13: Principals of Teacher Training Colleges (Certificate & Diploma)

CategoryEnrollmentGradeExperience
 1.Up to 1000 learnersPrincipal TTC T-Scale  13Served as Deputy Principal at T-Scale  12 or in  an  equivalent  position  for a  minimum period of three (3) years
2.Between 1001 & 1500 learnersSenior Principal TTC T-Scale 14Served  as  Principal  at T-Scale  13  or in  an equivalent position for a minimum period of three (3) years
3.Above 1500 learnersChief Principal TTC T-Scale  15Served  as Principal  at T-Scale  14  or in  an equivalent position for a minimum period of three (3) years

Table 14: Deputy Principals of Teacher Training Colleges (Certificate & Diploma)

CategoryEnrollmentGradeExperience
 1.Up to 1000 learnersDeputy Principal TTC III T-Scale  11Served as Senior Master III at T-Scale  10 or in  an  equivalent  position  for a  minimum period of three (3) years
2.Between 1001 & 1500 learnersDeputy Principal TTC II T-Scale  12Served  as Deputy Principal TTC III T-Scale  11  or in  an equivalent position for a minimum period of three (3) years
3.Above 1500 learnersDeputy Principal TTC I T-Scale  13Served  as Deputy Principal TTC II T-Scale 12 or in  an equivalent position for a minimum period of three (3) years

Table 15: Dean/Registrar of Teacher Training Colleges (Certificate & Diploma)

CategoryEnrollmentGradeExperience
 1.Up to 1000 learnersDean/ Registrar TIC Ill T-Scale 11Served  as Senior Master Ill  at T-Scale 10 or in an    equivalent position for  a minimum period of three (3) years
2.Between  1001 & 1500 learnersDean/Registrar TTC II T-Scale 12Served as Dean/Registrar III at T-Scale 11 or in an equivalent position for   a minimum period of three (3) years
 3.Above 1500Dean/Registrar TTC I T-Scale 13Served as Dean/Registrar III at T-Scale 12 or in an equivalent position for   a minimum period of three (3) years

Table 16: Senior Masters of Teacher Training Colleges (Certificate & Diploma)

CategoryEnrollmentGradeExperience
 1. Up to 1000 learnersSenior Master TTC Ill T-Scale  10Served  as  Senior  Lecturer IV at T-Scale 9  or In an equivalent position for a minimum  period of three (3) years
2.Between 1001  and 1500 learnersSenior Master TTC II T-Scale  11Served as Senior Master Ill at T-Scale 10 or In an equivalent position  for a  minimum  period  of three (3) years
3.Above  1500 learnersSenior Master TTC I T-Scale  12Served as Senior  Master II at T-Scale 11 or In anequivalent position  for a  minimum  period  of three (3) years

Table 17: Establishment and requirement for appointment of administrators In CEMASTEA

PositionNumberGradeExperience
Director1T- Scale  15Must have served as Deputy Director at T-Scale  14 or In an equivalent position for a minimum period of three (3) years.
Deputy Director1T- Scale  14Must have served as a Dean of studies at T-Scale  13 or in an equivalent position for a minimum period of three (3) years.
Dean of Studies1T- Scale 13Must have served  as a National/International Coordinator T-Scale  12 for a minimum period of three (3) years.
Programme Coordinators6T-Scale  12Must have served as a Senior National Trainer T-Scale 11 for a minimum  period of three (3) years.

Table 18: Establishment and requirements for appointment of administrators – KISE

PositionNumberGradeExperience
Director1T- Scale  15Must have served as a Deputy Director at T-Scale  14 or in an equivalent position for a minimum period of three (3) years.
Deputy Director2T- Scale  14Must have served as Academic  Registrar at T-Scale  13 or in an equivalent position for a minimum period of three (3) years.
Academic Registrar1T- Scale  13Must have served either as a Senior Master I   at T-Scale  12 or In an equivalent position for a minimum period of three (3)
Senior Masters5T-Scale 12Must have served either as a Senior Master II   at T-Scale  12 or In an equivalent position for a minimum period of three (3)

1.1 Qualifications and experience required of administrators in primary institutions

In addition to the requirements for appointment in the policy, administrators In Primary institutions will be appointed based on the criteria outlined in the tables below:

Table 19: Head Teacher

CategoryEnrollmentGradeExperience
1.Up to 1000 learnersHead Teacher T-Scale 10      Served   as  Deputy Head Teacher II at T-Scale 9 for minimum period of three (3) years
2.Above  1000 learnersSenior Head Teacher T-Scale 11Served as Head Teacher  T-Scale 10  for a minimum period of three (3) years

Table 20: Deputy Head Teacher

CategoryEnrolmentGradeExperience
1.Up to 1000 learnersDeputy Head Teacher 11 T-Scale  9Served as  a Senior Teacher I   at T-Scale  8 for minimum period of three (3) years
2.Above 1000 learnersDeputy Head Teacher I T-Scale  10Served as Deputy Head Teacher II  T-Scale 9 for a minimum period of three (3) years

Table 21: Senior Teacher

CategoryEnrollmentGradeExperience
1.Up to 1000 learnersSenior Teacher II T-Scale 7Served as Primary Teacher I T-Scale 6  for a minimum period of three (3) years
  2.Above 1000 learnersSenior Teacher I T-Scale 8Served as  Senior Teacher II T-Scale 7 for a minimum period of three (3) years

APPENDIX IV: REGIONAL SELECTION PANEL

The selection panel should consist of the following members:

a)    Regional Director – Chairperson

b)    Host County Director – Secretary

c)   All County Directors – Members

d)   Host CHRO – Member

Nairobi City County

a)   Regional Director – Chairperson

b) Deputy Director – Secretary

c)  All Sub County Directors – Members

d)  CHRO – Members

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