Teaching careers in Kenya: TSC registration and finding a post

Teaching remains one of the most common professional careers in Kenya. Competition for permanent public posts is strong, so it helps to understand every route into the classroom and to have your documents in order before posts are advertised.

Qualifying as a teacher

• Early years and primary: a diploma in early childhood or primary teacher education from a recognised teacher training college.
• Junior and senior school: a Diploma in Education or a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) with two teaching subjects. Graduates with a non-education degree can qualify through a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
• Technical and vocational institutions: trainers usually need a technical qualification in their field plus pedagogy training.

Since the move to the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), now the Competency Based Education framework, schools look for teachers who are confident with learner-centred methods and assessment. Mention any CBC training you have done.

Registering with the Teachers Service Commission

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) registers teachers, and registration is required to teach in Kenya, in both public and private schools. Once registered you receive a TSC number, which employers ask for on every application. Apply online through the TSC portal with your academic and professional certificates, your ID, and a certificate of good conduct.

Put your TSC number near the top of your CV, next to your name and contacts. Many school heads will not read further without it.

Types of teaching posts

• TSC permanent and pensionable posts. Advertised by the Commission, with selection carried out at county and sub-county level using a scoring guide. Scores usually reward the year you qualified, your subject combination and other criteria set in the advert, so read it carefully.
• TSC internship programmes. Paid internships for newly qualified teachers, which give experience and can count in later recruitment.
• Board of Management (BOM) teachers. Employed directly by a public school's board on local terms. A common way to gain experience and a reference while waiting for a TSC post.
• Private and international schools. Hire directly, often looking for strong subject knowledge, classroom management and, for international schools, experience with curricula such as IGCSE or IB.

Applying well

• List your teaching subjects clearly and your teaching practice school, with the classes you taught.
• Show results where you can: improvement in a subject mean score, a club you started, a competition your students entered.
• Add co-curricular strengths, such as coaching a sport, running drama or music, or leading a science club. Schools value teachers who contribute beyond the classroom.
• Prepare a short demonstration lesson. Many private schools ask candidates to teach a topic during the interview.

Documents to keep ready

TSC registration certificate, academic and professional certificates, your national ID, KRA PIN, a recent certificate of good conduct and, for many public posts, HELB and other clearances. Our guide to documents employers ask for explains how to get each one.