Functions of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Kenya

What is the mandate and role of Kenya’s Teachers Service Commission (TSC)? The TSC is one of the independent commissions established by Chapter Fifteen of the Kenyan Constitution (Article 248).

The Teachers Service Commission is established by Article 237 of the Kenyan Constitution. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Act, an Act of Parliament, contains additional provisions concerning the Commission.

Although the Teachers Service Commission was established in 1967, its origins can be traced back to the 1950s. Teachers (led by former President Daniel Arap Moi) fought hard at the time for the formation of a single-teacher body.

Following the formation of Kenya’s first teacher’s union, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), in 1957, there was persistent agitation for the establishment of a governing body to oversee the affairs of all teachers.

Teachers were employed at the time by missionaries, local governments, or the Central Government, resulting in significant disparities in remuneration and other terms and conditions of service.

The Kenya Education Commission Report (The Ominde Report) of 1964 emphasized the importance of a competent, respected, and contented teaching force. As a result of these factors, the Teachers Service Commission was established by an Act of Parliament in July 1967.

TSC was established to provide teachers with a single employer and uniform terms and conditions of employment. It was tasked with registering, hiring, promoting, disciplining, and remunerating teachers.

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Membership Of The Teachers Service Commission

The Teachers Service Commission consists of a chairperson and eight other members. The chairperson and members of the Commission should serve full-time for a six-year non-renewable term.

A person is qualified for the position of chairperson if and only if the following conditions are met:

Holds a degree in education from a Kenyan university; has at least fifteen years of knowledge and experience in education and training; meets the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution (on leadership and integrity).

A person is eligible for appointment as a member if he or she meets the following criteria:

Holds a degree from a Kenyan university; possesses at least ten years of knowledge and experience in any of the following fields: education, governance, management, and law; and satisfies the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution.

The President should ensure that at least two-thirds of Commission members have educational experience when appointing them.