The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has rolled out a program to sensitize teachers who will retire next year.
The sensitization exercise is planned to start next month, February, for the thousands of the senior teachers who will hang their boots after serving for years.
Each year TSC records roughly12,000 teachers who leave the teaching service.
The program is to help the teachers prepare mentally and physically for the exits which will start early next year and end on 31st December, 2027.
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.
Each year the Commission progressively carries out promotions and replacements for vacancies created by retiring teachers.
TSC has promoted a number of teachers this January to cover for gaps created by retired administrators.
The Commission is also in final process to complete recruitment of 9,159 teachers to replace teachers who exited the service in 2025 through natural attrition.
Retired teachers will be informed on online pension registration where the government has made it mandatory for all retired government employees to register online for pension.
The online pension registration targets 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.
Registration usually starts early November to end of February when its closed.
TSC usually forwards pension claims to the Treasury immediately teachers retire. Teachers start to receive pension then but is usually stopped if online registration is not done.
Teachers can carry out self registration at home or in a nearby cyber. Alternatively they can visit Huduma Centre for registration.
The following details are required for pension registration exercise.
- Your national ID
- Your bank plate or sacco plate
- Your KRA PIN number
- Your Pension number
- Your email address
- You ought to know your exact date of birth
- Your postal address and code
- Your next of kin’s full name as they appear on the ID
- Your next of kin’s ID number
- Your next of kin’s email address and mobile number
- Your next of kin’s KRA PIN number
- Your next of kin’s postal address and code
- Your beneficiaries’ names(these could be more than one) and ID numbers and postal addresses – If they are your children, carry their birth certificates
There are ten types of TSC 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.
