Kenya’s teaching profession could undergo a major transformation under the proposed revised Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), with classroom teachers set to gain a separate career pathway that could allow them to progress to the level of Chief Principal without taking administrative responsibilities.
The proposed reforms are expected to introduce a clearer distinction between professional classroom progression and administrative leadership in schools.
The revised CPG has been forwarded to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for advice on its financial implications and the remuneration structure before the new framework can be implemented.
Classroom teachers to have a separate career pathway
One of the most significant proposals in the revised CPG is that teachers will no longer necessarily have to become school administrators to reach the highest levels of the teaching profession.
Under the proposed structure, a teacher who chooses to remain in the classroom could progressively move through the career grades up to the level equivalent to Chief Principal.
The main difference would be the administrative responsibilities and allowances attached to leadership positions.
A classroom teacher would therefore be able to attain a high professional grade while continuing to teach, whereas a teacher serving as a principal or chief principal would also have management and administrative responsibilities.
This is expected to give teachers greater flexibility when planning their careers.
Proposed primary school career structure
The proposed primary-school structure shown in the revised CPG provides both administrative positions and corresponding classroom progression.
| Designation | Proposed TSC Grade | Administrative Position | Classroom Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher 9 | PT 9 | Entry grade for PTE Certificate | Primary Teacher 9 |
| Teacher 8 | PT 8 | Entry grade for Diploma in Education | Primary Teacher 8 |
| Teacher 7 | PT 7 | Senior Teacher | Primary Teacher 7 |
| Teacher 6 | PT 6 | Deputy Principal – Primary | Primary Teacher 6 |
| Teacher 5 | PT 5 | Principal II – Primary | Primary Teacher 5 |
| Teacher 4 | PT 4 | Principal I – Primary | Primary Teacher 4 |
| Teacher 3 | PT 3 | Principal – Primary | Primary Teacher 3 |
| Teacher 2 | PT 2 | Senior Principal – Primary | Primary Teacher 2 |
| Teacher 1 | PT 1 | Chief Principal – Primary | Primary Teacher 1 |
The structure means that the classroom career route could run alongside the administrative route.
A teacher would therefore not necessarily need to apply for a deputy principal or principal position simply to progress professionally.
Primary school heads to become principals
Another proposed change concerns the titles used for leadership in primary schools.
Under the proposed reforms, Heads of Institutions (HOIs) in primary schools are expected to be redesignated as Principals from July 1, 2027, when the new CPG is expected to take effect.
This would bring the terminology used in primary-school leadership closer to the structure used in secondary schools.
However, the proposed implementation date remains subject to the completion of the necessary approval and implementation processes.
Proposed secondary school career structure
The revised CPG also proposes a new structure for secondary-school teachers, running from ST 8 to ST 1.
| Designation | Proposed TSC Grade | Administrative Position | Classroom Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher 8 Secondary 3 | ST 8 | Entry grade for Diploma in Education | Teacher 8 |
| Teacher 7 Secondary 2 | ST 7 | Entry for Bachelor’s Degree | Teacher 7 |
| Teacher 6 Secondary 1 | ST 6 | Common cadre for Bachelor’s Degree | Teacher 6 |
| Teacher 5 Secondary | ST 5 | Senior Teacher – Secondary | Teacher 5 |
| Teacher 4 Secondary | ST 4 | Deputy Principal – Secondary | Teacher 4 |
| Teacher 3 Secondary | ST 3 | Principal – Secondary | Teacher 3 |
| Teacher 2 Secondary | ST 2 | Senior Principal – Secondary | Teacher 2 |
| Teacher 1 Secondary | ST 1 | Chief Principal – Secondary | Teacher 1 |
The proposed framework would also consolidate some of the existing career grades as part of the wider restructuring of the teaching service.
What will happen to salaries?
Teachers should distinguish between the proposed CPG grades and the salaries currently being paid.
The second phase of the 2025–2029 TSC Collective Bargaining Agreement took effect on July 1, 2026, meaning teachers currently continue to receive salaries under the existing grading structure until any new CPG remuneration framework is formally approved and implemented.
The current basic salary ranges include:
| Current Grade | Common Position | Basic Salary Range |
|---|---|---|
| B5 | Primary Teacher II | KSh 26,225 – 33,444 |
| C1 | Primary Teacher I / Secondary Teacher III | KSh 32,423 – 41,072 |
| C2 | Secondary Teacher II | KSh 41,100 – 50,287 |
| C3 | Secondary Teacher I | KSh 48,754 – 62,659 |
| C4 | Senior Teacher / Deputy Headteacher | KSh 57,667 – 72,988 |
| C5 | Headteacher / Senior Master | KSh 68,948 – 82,160 |
| D1 | Senior Master / Deputy Headteacher | KSh 80,500 – 97,827 |
| D2 | Deputy Principal / Headteacher | KSh 93,883 – 114,322 |
| D3 | Principal / Deputy Principal I | KSh 107,634 – 131,405 |
| D4 | Senior Principal | KSh 120,016 – 148,480 |
| D5 | Chief Principal | KSh 133,351 – 164,977 |
These are current basic salary ranges and should not be interpreted as the final salaries for the proposed PT and ST grades.
The final remuneration attached to the new structure will depend on the outcome of the SRC process and subsequent implementation by TSC.
Administrative allowance will remain a key difference
The proposed structure makes a distinction between a teacher’s professional grade and the administrative duties they perform.
For example, a classroom teacher could potentially progress to the equivalent of the Chief Principal level while continuing to teach.
A Chief Principal serving in an administrative position, however, would have additional responsibilities involving school management and would therefore be entitled to the applicable administrative allowance.
Administrative allowances are separate from basic salary and are not treated in the same way as pensionable basic salary when retirement benefits are calculated.
TSC and SRC process
The revised CPG has been forwarded to SRC to assess the financial implications of the proposed changes.
This process is important because changing career grades can have implications for salaries, allowances, promotions and the overall wage bill in the teaching service.
TSC has previously cautioned teachers against relying on unofficial documents and social-media claims concerning the proposed CPG.
Consequently, teachers should wait for official communication from TSC before treating the proposed grades, salaries or implementation dates as final.
What the proposed CPG means for teachers
If implemented as proposed, the new framework could create two broad professional routes.
The first would be the classroom pathway, allowing teachers to advance professionally without taking administrative positions.
The second would be the administrative pathway, through which teachers take positions such as deputy principal, principal, senior principal and chief principal.
Key proposed changes
| Area | Proposed change |
|---|---|
| Classroom progression | Teachers could rise through professional grades while remaining classroom teachers |
| Highest classroom level | Classroom teachers could progress to the Chief Principal equivalent |
| Administrative pathway | Separate progression through school leadership positions |
| Primary school heads | Expected to be redesignated as Principals |
| Proposed implementation date | July 1, 2027 |
| Primary grades | PT 9 to PT 1 |
| Secondary grades | ST 8 to ST 1 |
| SRC role | Assess financial implications and remuneration |
| Current salaries | Existing salary structure remains applicable until the new framework is formally implemented |
The proposed revised CPG therefore represents a major potential change in how teachers advance within the teaching profession.
Instead of making school administration the main route to the highest career grades, the proposed structure would recognise classroom teaching as a career in its own right, while maintaining a separate route for teachers who choose to take up administrative responsibilities.
For teachers, the key issue now remains the completion of the SRC process, formal approval and eventual implementation of the revised Career Progression Guidelines.
