For far too long, there have been cries from teachers who stagnated in the same job groups for a period exceeding 10 years. This was worsened by harrowing tales from teachers who had unsuccessfully attended interviews in the same job group for over four times, each time coming out with teary eyes.

Yet the 2025 interviews were quite different; for the first time, there were smiles as teachers received the fairest treatment in a process that can best be described as free, fair and credible. The promotions clearly addressed the issue of stagnation by promoting teachers who had stayed in the same job group for far too long.

The previous interviews evoked painful memories as experienced teachers watched helplessly as students they had taught were promoted, with some even coming to head the teachers who taught them!

Parliamentarians should therefore laud the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for the fair interviews carried out in 2025. In my opinion, the TSC redeemed itself through the 2025 interviews. The best we can do as a country is to support the commission with the resources it needs to do its constitutionally assigned role as an independent agency.

— Thomas Chemelil is a teacher at Elgeyo Marakwet County