TSC OPENS DOOR FOR RESIGNED AND DISMISSED TEACHERS TO CLAIM TERMINAL BENEFITS UNDER NEW CBA

For the first time, teachers who left service through resignation or dismissal after April 6, 2018, will be eligible to claim their terminal benefits, following a new directive from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). In a circular, TSC’s Acting Secretary and CEO Evaleen Mitei advised affected teachers and their families to visit the nearest county or sub-county TSC office for guidance on how to submit their applications. This policy shift is part of the newly signed 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the TSC and teachers’ unions. Previously, teachers who exited the profession through resignation or dismissal automatically forfeited their benefits. However, under the new agreement, they will now qualify for gratuity and pension, marking a significant change in policy.

While TSC did not disclose how many former teachers are set to benefit, the commission has regularly published the names of those removed from its register due to disciplinary issues. According to its website, 470 teachers have been deregistered over the past five years. Data from a TSC survey conducted between March and July 2022 shows that about 44 teachers exit the profession daily through retirement, resignation, or death. Further statistics indicate that between June 2022 and January 2023, a total of 8,018 teachers left the profession—an average of approximately 1,336 per month.

According to the circular, affected teachers or their beneficiaries must submit their applications through their respective sub-county directors. These directors will verify the documents for accuracy and completeness before forwarding them to county offices and eventually to the TSC head office. Required documents include personal identification, bank account details, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) PIN certificates, and in the case of deceased teachers, death certificates to be provided by the next of kin.

The Commission stressed that all submissions must first be verified at the sub-county level to ensure efficient and accurate processing. This new directive brings long-awaited relief to thousands of former teachers and their families who had previously been denied terminal dues after leaving the service through resignation or dismissal. TSC says the move reflects the terms of the 2025–2029 CBA and is aimed at ensuring equitable treatment for all educators.