The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has once again sent shockwaves across Kenya’s education sector after unveiling the 2025 recruitment guidelines. In the new circular, the Commission has banned several university degree programmes from consideration in teacher recruitment, even for those who later pursued a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) or enhancement courses.
This directive comes at a time when thousands of unemployed graduates are eyeing TSC jobs to secure permanent and pensionable teaching positions. The announcement not only narrows the path to becoming a teacher but also forces prospective educators to think carefully about the degree programmes they choose at university.
According to the Commission, only graduates whose training aligns directly with examinable subjects under the Kenya Secondary School Curriculum will be eligible for TSC registration and employment. Any other degree outside this list is now considered invalid for teaching careers.
The Degrees Now Disqualified
TSC has disqualified a long list of degree programmes that do not translate into examinable subjects at the secondary school level. Among the courses listed in the 2025 circular include:
- Natural Resources
- Forestry
- Animal Husbandry
- Horticulture
- Sociology
- Journalism
- Fisheries
- Biotechnology
- Meteorology
- Anthropology
- Farm Machinery
- Theology / Divinity
- Criminology (often grouped with other social sciences)
The Commission further emphasized that the list is not exhaustive. This means that any degree programme that does not align with secondary school subjects will be rejected. For instance, a graduate with a degree in Tourism, Aviation, or even Political Science would still be disqualified since these subjects are not offered in Kenya’s secondary school curriculum.
Why TSC Has Taken This Step
TSC’s rationale behind banning these degrees is rooted in aligning the teaching workforce with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and secondary school subject needs. Over the years, many graduates have taken degree programmes that are not examinable in schools but later attempt to join teaching through PGDE programs. This has created a mismatch between graduate training and actual classroom needs.
For example, a graduate with a degree in Journalism may pursue a PGDE in English, but without the required number of subject units studied at undergraduate level, they may not competently handle the secondary school syllabus. Similarly, graduates of Sociology or Criminology may not meet unit thresholds for History, CRE, or Social Studies teaching.
By introducing this ban, TSC hopes to close loopholes that previously allowed non-aligned degree holders to join the profession, thereby ensuring quality, relevance, and fairness in recruitment.
What This Means for Current and Future University Students
For students already enrolled in universities or those planning to pursue education-related careers, the new guidelines are a wake-up call. Choosing a degree programme now requires careful alignment with teaching subjects.
The approved degree programmes for secondary school teaching remain:
- Bachelor of Education (Arts)
- Bachelor of Education (Science)
- Bachelor of Education (Special Needs Education)
- Bachelor of Education (Technology and Design)
- Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary Education)
- Subject-specific degrees like Mathematics, Kiswahili, English, Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography, Agriculture, and Computer Science (with adequate units covered and followed by a PGDE if necessary).
Graduates with banned degrees will now have to rethink their career paths or seek alternative employment in industries outside teaching.
Exceptions and Alternatives
While the guidelines appear strict, TSC has provided several exceptions where certain degree holders may still qualify to teach:
- Economics, Commerce, or Accounting graduates may apply to teach Business Studies.
- Social Education and Ethics (SEE) graduates are allowed to teach CRE/IRE.
- Diploma teachers with English plus another subject qualify to teach English/Literature provided they covered adequate units in both.
- For Special Needs Education, unique qualifications such as Kenya Sign Language (KSL) and Braille are recognized as teaching subjects.
These exceptions are meant to bridge critical subject shortages while ensuring quality and curriculum alignment.
Impact on Graduates Already Affected
For thousands of graduates who already hold degrees now banned by TSC, the announcement is devastating. Many have invested years and money in their education with the hope of securing a teaching career. Unfortunately, unless their degrees fall under the exception list, they will have to seek alternative career options.
Education experts argue that this is a timely reality check for Kenyan universities as well. For years, institutions have been offering degree programmes that do not align with market needs. By blacklisting these courses, TSC is indirectly pushing universities to revise their curriculum offerings and better guide students in career planning.
Linking to Wider TSC Reforms
The 2025 recruitment guidelines are not happening in isolation. They come in the wake of broader reforms by TSC to digitize operations and streamline teacher management. Recently, the Commission introduced an online teacher transfer system for Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, which has been hailed as a game changer (see full details here).
In addition, the Commission is rolling out recruitment drives and publishing guidelines to ensure only the most qualified candidates apply. For those eyeing the upcoming job opportunities, check out our Comprehensive Guide to TSC August 2025 Job Vacancies.
Similarly, for teachers seeking transfers, our step-by-step TSC Transfer Application Guide 2025 explains the process in detail. JSS teachers can also review the official TSC JSS Intern Score Sheet 2025 to understand how scores are allocated during recruitment and deployment.
By connecting these reforms, TSC aims to modernize teacher management while addressing historical challenges such as teacher shortages, mismatched qualifications, and bureaucratic delays.
Stakeholder Reactions
Teacher unions including KNUT and KUPPET have expressed mixed reactions. On one hand, they support the move as a step towards improving teaching quality. On the other hand, they have raised concerns about graduates who are now “locked out” of the profession despite investing heavily in their education.
Parents and education stakeholders have generally welcomed the decision, saying it will ensure that children are taught by teachers who are highly qualified in examinable subjects. Universities, however, may face backlash as students increasingly question the relevance of non-teaching degree programmes.
Final Word
The TSC’s decision to disqualify certain degrees in 2025 marks a turning point in Kenya’s teacher recruitment process. While the ban may come as a blow to some graduates, it highlights the need for alignment between university training and the national curriculum. For aspiring teachers, the message is clear: choose your degree wisely, ensure it aligns with examinable teaching subjects, and meet the unit thresholds required by TSC.
As the Commission continues to roll out reforms — from recruitment guidelines to digital transfer systems — the future of Kenya’s teaching profession is set to become more structured, transparent, and quality-driven.
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