The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is facing mass exit of teachers from payroll at the end of this month.
At least 10,200 teachers will be heading home for retirement on 30th June after reaching the mandatory retirement age.
According to TSC a teacher will go for compulsory retirement on hitting 60 years of age. Teachers living with disabilities are however retired at 65 years.
Both classroom teachers and school administrators will be affected by this mass exit. TSC has promoted a number of teachers to cover for gaps created by retiring administrators.
The Commission will also carry out mass recruitment to replace the retired teachers. The replacement exercise will start in September.
In addition TSC plans to employ a total of 24,000 teachers by the end of this year. This will cover both primary and post primary school teachers.
Making the revelation Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said Ruto’s government has so far employed 76,000 teachers.
Speaking Tuesday at Sarova Whitesands Beach Hotel in Mombasa during the opening of a retreat for public university council chairpersons, Ogamba said the move is part of efforts to strengthen the country’s education system.
“We are going to use what we have and operate within it. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommends that countries allocate 20 percent of their budgets to education, but we have already allocated 28 percent. We are beyond the UNESCO standards required, and we will use the resources optimally,” he said.
TSC has ten types of Retirements/Service exits recognized under Teacher service commission (TSC) policies.
1. TSC Voluntary retirement
A teacher may apply to retire on attainment of 50 years and on completion of 10 years continuous service on Permanent and Pensionable terms.
Such a teacher shall apply in writing through the head of institution giving three months’ notice, stating the intended date of retirement.
Upon receipt of the application the Commission shall: Consider the application and issue a retirement notice.
Process retirement claim upon receipt of required documents from the teacher.
The claim will then be forwarded to the Director of Pension, Treasury, for payment.
2. TSC Retirement on medical grounds
A teacher may apply to retire or be called upon to retire on medical grounds and he/she should attach supportive medical documents.
Procedure
- The Commission will write to the Director of Medical Services (DMS) to convene a medical board.
- The Medical Board will assess the teacher and give a recommendation to the DMS who in turn advises the Commission.
- The Commission will retire the teacher on medical grounds.
- TSC Retirement in public interest
A teacher may be retired in the light of his/her usefulness to the teaching service or any public assignment and all other circumstances of the case, such retirement is desirable in the public interest.
NB: Teachers who retire qualify for lump sum and monthly Pension.
3. TSC Resignation
A teacher on permanent and pensionable terms can resign from service after giving three months’ notice in writing or pay one month’s basic salary in lieu of notice.
Resignation will not attract any pension benefits. However, a male teacher who resigns or is dismissed from service is entitled to WCPS refund. Such a teacher should write claiming the refund.
4. TSC Resignation on marriage grounds
A married female teacher who has served for a minimum of period of five (5) years on P&P terms can resign on account of marriage.
One is entitled to a marriage gratuity paid at a rate of 1/12 of a month’s pensionable emoluments for each completed month of pensionable service subject to a maximum of one year pensionable emoluments.
5. Termination of service
An appointment of a teacher either serving on temporary or probationary terms may be terminated by either the Commission or the teacher, with either party giving one month’s notice in writing or paying one month’s basic salary in lieu of notice.
An appointment on P&P terms may be terminated by either the Commission or the teacher, with either party giving three (3) month’s notice in writing or paying one (1) month’s basic salary in lieu of notice.
In case of temporary appointment, NSSF benefits are administered as per NSSF Act Cap 258.
A male teacher who was a contributor to WCPS qualifies for a refund of the amounts contributed.
6. TSC Death gratuity
The dependants of a teacher who dies in service are entitled to Death Gratuity and Dependants Pension if the teacher was serving on Permanent and Pensionable terms and was confirmed in the service.
For Death Gratuity to be paid the following shall apply:
Deceased teacher’s name is removed from payroll and overpayment recorded if any.
The next-of-kin should submit original death certificate and a letter by area chief identifying the next-of-kin and dependants.
The next of kin will settle over payment if any. The claim is forwarded to the Director of Pensions for payment.
NB: In case of a dispute, the parties involved are referred to the Deputy County Commissioner for arbitration.
The dependants may also seek legal redress from a court of law.
Pension is paid to the deceased dependants who are aged below 18 years for a period of 5 years.
7. Killed while on duty
This is pension paid to dependants when a teacher is killed on duty.
The benefit is payable to the spouse and/or dependants of a teacher who dies as a result of injuries in the actual discharge of duty and without his/her own intention.
NB: The retirees/next of kin are informed when the claims are forwarded to the treasury for payment.
8. Release to other organizations
A teacher who has been appointed to a Public Institution, Teachers Union, non-profit making educational institution or Parastatal should submit an application to the Commission in writing through the head of institution or agent and:
- Attach a copy of the appointment letter
- Present letter of acceptance of the offer
- Present a TSC clearance certificate from the head of institution or TSC County Director in order to be released.
The benefits from the teaching service are suspended until one retires with benefits from the institution he/she was released to.
9. Transfer of service
A teacher who is offered employment by the Public Service Commission will have his/her past service with the Commission transferred to the new Ministry. Such a teacher shall be required to apply for Transfer of service attaching the appointment letter, acceptance of offer letter and TSC clearance certificate.
The Commission will then:
- Process Transfer of Service documents.
- Submit documents to the relevant ministry/department.
10. Compulsory Retirement
This applies to teachers who have attained 60 years. A notice will be issued two years before the date of retirement.
The Commission may issue a shorter retirement notice under special circumstances.
Upon receipt of the retirement notice a teacher shall;
- Promptly forward all the required documents listed in the notice.
- Indicate full particulars of his/her bank account in the bank forms.
- Commute a fraction of his/her pension up to a quarter.
- Confirm Tax status with KRA and settle any tax liabilities.
At the same time retirees will have some relief starting 1st July 2025 as new changes will set in.
Retirees will now benefit immensely as Treasury announced that there will be no tax on gratuity beginning July.
The government has also digitized processing of pension claims. Under the new system pensioners will submit claims online, receive automated approvals and manage the pensions from home.
Treasury had requested all retirees to self register for this online service.
The Pensioner Self-Registration exercise ran from 5th December 2024 to 28th February 2025.
How to Register
1. Online Registration: Navigate to the E-citizen Portal, log-in and follow the self-registration process under the Pensions Department, National Treasury.
2. In-Person Assistance: Visit any Huduma Centre, Treasury Pensions Department office, or designated registration agent for help.
The registration targets pensioners in the category of retired:
- State Officers
- Civil Servants
- Teachers who are former employees of TSC
- Police, Prisons and National Youth Service Officers
- Military officers and
- Dependants of deceased pensioners
In order to register, a pensioner or dependant is required to have a valid email address, mobile telephone number, KRA pin number and an eCitizen account.
Documents required to upload during the registration include scanned pdf copies of;
- National ID (both front and backside)
- Bank or SACCO ATM card of your pension disbursement account (face side only with name and A/C No. clearly legible)
- Birth certificates for children
- Death certificates for principal pensioners and
- Tax exception certificates for PWD where applicable
