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By John Kariuki
Benter Opande, CEO of the Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA), has highlighted a growing crisis of career stagnation among Kenya’s primary school teachers, many of whom have gone years without promotion despite their qualifications and dedication.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement, Opande noted, “There is a serious crisis of career stagnation in the teaching service, revealed in the high number of teachers who have not earned any promotion for more than five years.”
While the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) promoted 51,000 teachers during the 2023/2024 cycle, approximately 130,000 eligible teachers were left behind, exposing what KEWOTA identifies as significant shortcomings in the current promotion framework.
The Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), introduced under the Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) of 2016-2021 and 2021-2025, have drawn criticism for contributing to the stagnation. KEWOTA has called for the abolition of the CPG in favor of a system that rewards long service and performance rather than disproportionately tying promotions to administrative roles.
Additionally, KEWOTA urged the government to bolster the Ministry of Education’s Quality Assurance Directorate through increased funding. This, they argue, would improve staff establishment records and create a transparent pathway for teachers to advance to senior roles, aligning their career growth with practices in academic and research institutions.
“Teachers deserve a system that values their hard work and creates opportunities for professional growth,” Opande emphasized.
KEWOTA’s call for reform adds urgency to the broader push for change in Kenya’s education sector, where educators are advocating for a more equitable and effective framework for career advancement. Addressing this issue is critical to restoring morale and recognizing teachers’ vital role in shaping the nation’s future.
