Teachers Service Commission, TSC, has a laid down framework that guides the distribution of administrative posts in a given institution.
Each school must have at least one head of the institution. National schools and some extra county schools have two deputy principals.
Schools that fall in other categories have one deputy principal.
In March this year TSC announced that it will reorganise placement of heads and deputies in mixed schools. This move will ensure that gender mainstreaming and equity is achieved.
See the guidelines below on the numbers of administrators that each school category should be having.
STAFFING LEVELS IN LEARNING INSTITUTIONS (PRIMARY, SECONDARY & TERTIARY)
Deputy Head teachers and Senior Teachers of Primary Schools as per Establishment
| STREAM/S | CLASSES | MAX. ENROLMENT | CBE | DEPUTY HEAD TEACHERS | SENIOR TEACHERS |
| 1 | 8 | 400 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 16 | 800 | 17 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | 24 | 1200 | 25 | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | 32 | 1600 | 33 | 2 | 3 |
| 5 | 40 | 2000 | 41 | 2 | 4 |
| 6 | 48 | 2400 | 49 | 2 | 4 |
| 7 | 56 | 2800 | 57 | 2 | 5 |
| 8 | 64 | 3200 | 65 | 2 | 6 |
| 9 | 72 | 3600 | 73 | 2 | 7 |
| 10 | 80 | 4000 | 81 | 2 | 8 |
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Notes:
- Establishment of Primary Schools is based on a minimum teaching load of 35 lessons per week and a maximum class size of 50 pupils.
- The CBE per school includes the Principal, Deputy Head Teacher/s and Senior Teacher/s.
- Where there are two Deputy Head teachers in an institution, one shall be responsible for Academics and the other Administration.
- Irrespective of the size and enrolment, each fully fledged Special Needs Education Institution would have at least five (5) Senior Teachers/Masters.
Deputy Principals and Senior Masters of Secondary Schools as per Curriculum Based Established (CBE)
| STREAM/S | CLASSES | MAX. ENROLMENT | CBE | D/PRINCIPALS | SENIORMASTERS/MISTRESS |
| 1 | 4 | 180 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 8 | 360 | 19 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | 12 | 540 | 28 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | 16 | 720 | 38 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | 20 | 900 | 47 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | 24 | 1080 | 55 | 2 | 6 |
| 7 | 28 | 1260 | 63 | 2 | 6 |
| 8 | 32 | 1440 | 68 | 2 | 7 |
| 9 | 36 | 1620 | 76 | 2 | 7 |
| 10 | 40 | 1800 | 85 | 2 | 7 |
| 11 | 44 | 1980 | 93 | 2 | 8 |
| 12 | 48 | 2160 | 101 | 2 | 9 |
Notes:
- CBE based on minimum teaching load of 27 lessons per week and maximum class size of 45 students.
- The CBE per school includes the Principal, Deputy Principal/s and Senior Master/s.
- Where there are two Deputy Head teachers in an institution, one shall be responsible for Academics and the other Administration.
Table 3: Deputy Principals and Senior Masters of TVET Institutions as per CBE
| ENROLMENT | DEPUTY PRINCIPALS | SENIOR MASTER/ MISTRESS | DEAN OF STUDENTS | REGISTRAR |
| Up to 1,000 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Between 1,001 and 1,500 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| Above 1,500 | 2 | 19 | 1 | 1 |
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Deputy Principals and Senior Masters of TTC’s (Certificate & Diploma) as per the CBE
| ENROLMENT | DEPUTY PRINCIPALS | SENIOR MASTER/ MISTRESS | DEAN OF STUDENTS | REGISTRAR |
| Up to 1,000 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Between 1,001 and 1,500 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Above 1,500 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
Positions of Senior Masters/Mistresses (CEMASTEA) as per the CBE
| S/NO | SENIOR MASTER/MISTRESS |
| 1. | Training Coordinator ICT |
| 2. | Training Coordinator-International |
| 3. | Training Coordinator– Mathematics |
| 4. | Training Coordinator – Physics |
| 5. | Training Coordinator- Chemistry |
| 6. | Training Coordinator- Biology |
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Positions of Senior Masters/Mistresses (KISE) as per the CBE
| S/NO | SENIOR MASTER/MISTRESS |
| 1. | Disabilities studies |
| 2. | Research and Educational Resources |
| 3. | Functional Assessment and Guidance and Counseling |
| 4. | Distance learning and CPD Programmes |
| 5. | Quality Assurance and Standards |
| 6. | Teaching Practice Coordinator |
ESTABLISHMENT OF SENIOR TEACHERS/ MASTERS IN PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.
Secondary schools and Tertiary Institutions shall have senior masters heading the following departments.
Positions of Senior Teachers (Primary Schools)
| S/NO | SENIOR TEACHERS |
| 1 | Social Studies |
| 2 | Science and Mathematics |
| 3 | Languages |
| 4 | Boarding |
| 5 | Co-Curriculum Activities |
| 6 | Guidance and Counseling/Careers |
| 7 | Quality Assurance and Standards (QAS) |
| 8 | Academic/Mentorship |
Positions of Senior Teachers (Special Needs Primary Schools)
| S/NO | SENIOR TEACHERS |
| 1. | Technical & Creative Arts |
| 2. | Boarding |
| 3. | Co-Curriculum Activities |
| 4. | Guidance and Counseling/Careers |
| 5. | Quality Assurance and Standards (QAS) |
| 6. | Academic/Mentorship |
Positions of Senior Masters/Mistresses (Secondary Schools)
| S/NO | SENIOR MASTER/MISTRESS |
| 1 | Humanities |
| 2 | Science and Mathematics |
| 3 | Languages |
| 4 | Technical & Creative Arts |
| 5 | Boarding |
| 6 | Co-Curriculum Activities |
| 7 | Guidance and Counseling/Careers |
| 8 | Quality Assurance and Standards (QAS) |
| 9 | Academic/Mentorship |
Positions of Senior Masters/Mistresses (Special Needs Secondary Schools)
| S/NO | SENIOR MASTERS/MISTRESSES |
| 1. | Technical & Creative Arts |
| 2. | Boarding |
| 3. | Co-Curriculum Activities |
| 4. | Guidance and Counseling/Careers |
| 5. | Quality Assurance and Standards (QAS) |
| 6. | Academic/Mentorship |
Positions of Senior Masters/Mistresses TVET Institutions (this also applies to SNE TVET institutions)
| S/NO | SENIOR MASTER/MISTRESS |
| 1 | Agriculture / Agricultural Engineering |
| 2 | Applied and Health Sciences |
| 3 | Automotive Engineering |
| 4 | Chemical Engineering |
| 5 | Computer Studies / Information and communication Technology |
| 6 | Business and Entrepreneurship Studies |
| 7 | Building and Civil Engineering |
| 8 | Education and Communication |
| 9 | Liberal Studies |
| 10 | Mechanical Engineering |
| 11. | Electrical and Electronics Engineering |
| 12. | Institutional and Hospitality Management |
| 13. | Surveying / Architecture |
| 14. | Guidance & Counselling |
| 15. | Industrial Attachment Co-ordinator |
| 16. | Quality Assurance and Standards (QAS) |
| 17. | Boarding |
| 18. | Co curricular Activities |
| 19. | Academic/Mentorship |
 Table Positions of Senior Masters/Mistresses (TTCs)
| S/NO | SENIOR MASTER/MISTRESS |
| 1. | Education |
| 2. | Sciences and Mathematics |
| 3. | Social Sciences |
| 4. | Languages |
| 5. | Creative Arts |
| 6. | Guidance and Counselling |
| 7. | Co-Curricular Activities |
| 8. | Quality Assurance and Standards (QAS) |
| 9. | Boarding |
| 10. | Teaching Practice Co-ordinator |
| 11. | Academic/Mentorship |
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Establishment of Administrative Positions CEMASTEA
| POSITION | NUMBER | GRADE | TSC SCALE |
| Director | 1 | D5 | T15 |
| Deputy Director | 1 | D4 | T14 |
| Dean of Studies | 1 | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â D3 | T13 |
| Training Coordinators | 6 | D2 | T12 |
 Establishment of Administrative Positions in KISE
| POSITION | NUMBER | GRADE | TSC SCALE |
| Director | 1 | D5 | T15 |
| Deputy Director | 2 | D4 | T14 |
| Dean | 1 | D3 | T13 |
| Registrar | 1 | ||
| Senior Masters/Mistress | 5 | D2 | T12 |
 Principals of Secondary Schools
| CATEGORY | GRADE | EXPERIENCE |
| Sub County & All Day Schools | PrincipalT 13 (Grade -D3) | Served as a Deputy Principal at D2 for 3 at least years |
| County Schools with minimum enrolment of 540 students | Senior PrincipalT 14(Grade – D4)
| Served as a Principal at D3 for at least 3 years. |
| National & Extra County Schools with minimum enrolment of 1000 students | Chief PrincipalT 15(Grade – D5) | Served as a Senior Principal at D4 for at least 3 years |
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 Deputy Principals of Secondary Schools.
| CATEGORY | GRADE | EXPERIENCE |
| Sub County & All Day Schools | Deputy Principal IIIT 11(Grade D1) | Served as a Senior Master at C5 for at least 3 years |
| County Schools with minimum enrolment of 540 students | Deputy Principal IIT 12(Grade D2) | Served as a Deputy Principal at D1 for at least 3 years |
| National & Extra County Schools with minimum enrolment of 1000 students | Deputy Principal IT 13(Grade D3) | Served as a Deputy Principal at D2 for at least 3 years |
Senior Masters of Secondary Schools
| CATEGORY | GRADE | EXPERIENCE |
| Sub County & All Day Schools | Senior Master IIIT 10(Grade –C5) | Served as a teacher at C4 for at least of 3 years |
| County Schools with minimum enrolment of 540 students | Senior Master IIT 11(Grade – D1) | Served as a Senior Master III at C5 for at least 3 years |
| National & Extra County Schools with minimum enrolment of 1000 students | Senior Master IT 12(Grade – D2) | Served as a Senior Master II at D1 for at least 3 years |