Teachers Service Commission- Registering, employing, promoting, and paying teachers in Kenya
Although the Teachers Service Commission was established in 1967, its history dates back to the 1950s when teachers led by retired President Daniel T Moi vigorously fought for the formation of one teacher body.
Following the formation of the first teachers union in Kenya – the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) in 1957 there was sustained agitation for the creation of an umbrella body to manage the affairs of all teachers. At the time, teachers were employed by either; missionaries, local authorities, or the Central Government which led to a great disparity in remuneration and other terms and conditions of service. In 1964, The Kenya Education Commission Report (The Ominde Report) strongly supported the need for a competent, respected, and contented teaching force. As a result of these factors, the Teachers Service Commission was formed in July 1967 through an Act of Parliament to give teachers one employer and uniform terms and conditions of service. It was charged with the mandate of registering, employing, promoting, disciplining, and paying teachers.
The Teachers Service Commission, whose core values are professionalism, customer focus, integrity, innovativeness, and team spirit, was established in the year 1967. Its establishment came as a result of the dire need of an umbrella body that would manage the affairs of all teachers in the country. The history of its inception dates way back to the 1950s when teachers, led by the former president Daniel Arap Moi, fought for one teachers’ body. Then, in 1957, the first teacher’s union, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) was formed. In 1964, the Ominde Report supported the need for the Teachers Service Commission. By 1967, the Teachers Service Commission had thirty seven thousand registered teachers, and in 2017, the number had risen to 758,914.
The various TSC online services have made it easier for teachers to carry out different tasks right at home. It is no longer necessary for teachers to physically show up at offices in order to get some things done. Some of the services offered by the TSC portal include:
T-Pay is an online service provided by the portal that allows teachers registered under the commission to access their TSC online payslips. To register for T-Pay (TSC payslip registration), one needs to visit the nearest TSC county office with their original national identification card. The TSC payslip online login page only requires that you log in using your Teachers Service Commission number and password. Also, note that T-Pay allows you to access your payslips online for free.
TPAD is an open appraisal system that allows teachers in primary and secondary schools to evaluate their own performance in a bid to initiate professional development. TPAD stands for Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development. The appraisal system helps to maintain teaching standards at an institutional level. TPAD was developed in accordance with the Teachers Service Commission Code of Regulation for Teachers reg 52(1) which required the Teachers Service Commission to develop an open appraisal system for teachers.
In order to go about filling in the TPAD form, use the following guideline.
Visit the Teachers Service Commission online portal.
The Teachers Service Commission portal also allows one to track the process of teacher registration for those who have just applied for Teachers Service Commission numbers. To check your TSC registration status:
Visit the Teachers Service Commission online portal.
For wealth declaration, teachers have to fill in an online form that is made up of two sections: Part A and Part B.
To log in:
Type your Teachers Service Commission number.
Enter your password.
Click ‘Log in’.
General information and biodata
Read the general information. Click ‘Next’.
Fill in the following details: a place of birth, marital status, postal address, and permanent address.
Click ‘Next’.
Enter details of your income, liabilities, and assets
Click ‘Add/Save’.
Capturing dependants and spouses
This section is used for the actual monitoring of income, assets, and liabilities.
According to Art 237 of the Teachers Service Commission Act 2012, it is an offense for any person to engage in the teaching service profession unless he or she is registered as a teacher. As such, it is paramount for all those who wish to practice teaching to ensure that they are registered teachers.
For TSC online registration, you will need to scan and upload the following documents:
Entry and work permits for non-Kenyans.
To go about TSC number registration, follow this simple procedure:
Visit the Teachers Service Commission online portal.
Click ‘New Teacher Registration’.
You will be directed to a screen where you will be required to type in your ID number or passport number and your surname. Click ‘Next’ after doing this.
Select the payment mode, type in the pay-in-slip number, and save and finalize your application. For new teacher registration, a non-refundable fee of Kshs. 1055/- should be deposited to the Teachers Service Commission Registration Account National Bank of Kenya (Direct Banking to A/C No. 01001000905001). Alternatively, the payment can be made using simple banking using Pay Bill Business Number 625625 (Kshs. 1,000 is a non-refundable registration fee, and Kshs. 55 is the bank commission charge to the Teachers Service Commission).
Note that once your application is successful, you will be issued with a certificate of registration bearing your Teachers Service Commission number within thirty days of finalizing your application.
TSC online system also allows you to apply for a duplicate certificate of registration in case yours is lost, destroyed, or misplaced. The commission does not allow any paper applications for this. To go about this, you need to provide truthful information only, scan, and attach the required documents.
For the application for a duplicate certificate of registration, one is required to pay a non-refundable fee of Kshs. 2055 deposited to the Teachers Service Commission Registration Account: National Bank of Kenya – Direct Banking A/C No. 0100100570400.
Always ensure that you have the bank deposit slip before proceeding with duplicate certificate registration.
Head office contacts
Private Bag – Nairobi
020 289 2000
P. O. BOX 49416 – 00100, Nairobi GPO
Use the following contact details to get in touch with county directors of the respective counties listed:
Kakamega County
P. O. BOX 2964 – 50100, Kakamega
Bungoma County
P. O. BOX 1285 – 50200, Bungoma
Vihiga County
P. O. BOX 1453 – 50300, Maragoli
Busia County
P. O. BOX 196 – 50400, Busia
For county directors in the Nyanza region, use these contacts:
Kisumu County
P. O. BOX 7489 – 40100, Kisumu
Kisii County
P. O. BOX 556 – 40200, Kisii
Siaya County
P. O. BOX 622 – 40600, Siaya
Homa Bay County
P. O. BOX 673 – 40300, Homa Bay
Migori County
P. O. BOX 760 – 40400, Migori
Nyamira County
To get in touch with county directors from North Eastern, make use of these contact details:
Garissa County
P. O. BOX 1688 – 70100, Garissa
Mandera County
P. O. BOX 264 – 70300, Mandera
Wajir County
P. O. BOX 507 – 70200, Wajir
Marsabit County
P. O. BOX 362 – 60500, Marsabit
Use these contacts to get in touch with county directors of education in the Coast region
Kilifi County
P. O. BOX 1227 – 80108, Kilifi
Lamu County
P. O. BOX 448 – 80500, Lamu
Taita Taveta County
P. O. BOX 351 – 80305, Mwatate
Tana River County
P. O. BOX 133 – 70101, Hola
Mombasa County
P. O. BOX 88869 – 80100, Mombasa
Kwale County
P. O. BOX 76 – 80403, Kwale
These are the contact details of county directors in the Eastern region of Kenya:
Embu County
P. O. BOX 2754 – 60100, Embu
Meru County
P. O. BOX 2966 – 60200, Meru
Isiolo County
P. O. BOX 797 – 60300, Isiolo
Machakos County
P. O. BOX 351 – 90100, Machakos
Kitui County
P. O. BOX 1541 – 90200, Kitui
Makueni County
P. O. BOX 505 – 90300, Makueni
Tharaka Nithi County
P. O. BOX 781 – 60215, Chuka
For county directors in Rift Valley:
Turkana County
P. O. BOX 293 – 30500, Lodwar
West Pokot County
P. O. BOX 32 – 20600, Kapenguria
Samburu County
P. O. BOX 32 – 20600, Maralal
Trans Nzoia County
P. O. BOX 4442 – 30200, Kitale
Uasin Gishu County
P. O. BOX 256 – 30100, Eldoret
Elgeyo Marakwet County
P. O. BOX 384 – 30700, Iten
Nandi County
P. O. BOX 1123 – 30300, Kapsabet
Baringo County
P. O. BOX 17 – 30400, Kabarnet
Nakuru County
P. O. BOX 491 – 20100, Nakuru
Narok County
P. O. BOX 931 – 20500, Narok
Kericho County
P. O. BOX 2280 – 20200, Kericho
Bomet County
P. O. BOX 369 – 20400, Bomet
Kajiado County
P. O. BOX 560 – 01100, Kajiado
County directors in the Central region can be contacted through:
Laikipia County
P. O. BOX 484- 10400, Nanyuki
Nyeri County
P. O. BOX 526 – 10100, Nyeri
Kirinyaga County
P. O. BOX, Kerugoya
Muranga County
P. O. BOX, Muranga
Kiambu County
P. O. BOX 28 – 00900, Kiambu
Nyandarua County
P. O. BOX 224 – 20303, Olkalao
Given the TSC portal services outlined above, it can be said that the online system has made it easier for both the commission and teachers to carry out their duties effectively.