As the 2026/2027 budget cycle kicks into high gear this February, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has unveiled a sophisticated new strategy to tackle professional indiscipline and improve pedagogical standards. Article 33 focuses on the institutionalization of the Teacher Induction, Mentorship, and Coaching (TIMEC) program.
With a targeted enrollment of 56,000 teachers across 300 schools in the next financial year, this initiative signals a shift from purely punitive disciplinary measures toward a “preventive and corrective” support system for the Kenyan teaching service.
For years, the TSC has been criticized for a “policing” approach to teacher management. The TIMEC program, anchored in the 2024–2026 reforms, changes the narrative by identifying teachers who are struggling with professional conduct or classroom performance and pairing them with highly competent mentors.
According to acting CEO Evaleen Mitei, the program is designed to “curb cases of indiscipline” before they reach the stage of formal interdiction. By providing a safe space for growth, the Commission hopes to rescue careers that might otherwise be lost to professional stagnation or ethical lapses.
Structured Support for New Recruits and Administrators
The TIMEC framework is specifically tailored for three high-stakes groups:
Newly Recruited Teachers: Providing a “soft landing” for the 16,000 new hires entering Junior and Senior Schools.
Newly Appointed Administrators: Guiding the thousands of teachers being promoted to headships in the new Junior School structure.
Reinstated Teachers: Offering a mandatory re-entry path for educators who have undergone the discipline process (as discussed in Article 26) to ensure they are fully retooled for the classroom.
The Sh422.9 Billion Budgetary Backbone
The implementation of TIMEC is part of the broader Sh422.95 billion budget proposal presented to the National Assembly’s Education Committee on February 19, 2026. This ambitious budget represents a Sh35.7 billion increase from the previous year, aimed at supporting human resource management on an unprecedented scale. Within this fund, the TSC has prioritized:
Promoting 12,000 Teachers: A Sh2 billion allocation to clear the backlog of stagnant staff.
Retooling 70,000 Educators: Specifically for the new learning areas in Junior and Senior Secondary pathways.
Digital Integration: Training 23,000 teachers in ICT and remote learning to complement the mentorship program.
A Culture of Lifelong Learning
By institutionalizing mentorship, the TSC is attempting to build a “life-long learning culture” within schools. The program uses a digital session log and journal system to track a teacher’s progress, ensuring that mentorship isn’t just a one-off seminar but a continuous professional relationship.
Lawmakers, led by Committee Chairperson Julius Melly, have praised the move but urged the Commission to ensure that these “soft reforms” lead to immediate, measurable improvements in learning outcomes for the 10 million children in the public school system.
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TSC TIMEC program 2026, Teacher mentorship and coaching Kenya, TSC budget 2026/27 recruitment, Promoting 12000 teachers Kenya, TSC mentor identification, Professional conduct in teaching Kenya.
