Over 700 slots: TSC opens nominations ahead of 2026 World Teachers’ Day Awards
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- The Teachers Service Commission opened nominations for the 2026 World Teachers' Day Awards across 13 distinct categories
- TSC set August 26 as the deadline for submissions, with final awardees to be recognised on October 5
- Teachers can nominate themselves in up to two categories, while peers and heads of institutions can also submit nominations
Elijah Ntongai is an experienced editor at TUKO.co.ke, with more than four years in financial, business, labour and technology research and reporting. His work provides valuable insights into Kenyan, African, and global trends.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has opened nominations for its 2026 World Teachers' Day Awards, inviting applications from teachers and institutional administrators who have made a measurable difference in Kenya's education sector.
The commission confirmed that nominations will close at 11pm on August 26, after which an evaluation process will begin, culminating in the recognition of national awardees during the World Teachers' Day celebrations on October 5.
"World Teachers’ Day (WTD) 2025 will be celebrated on 5th October 2025 under the theme ‘recasting teaching as a collaborative profession’. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, teachers’ unions, development partners, and other education stakeholders, is coordinating activities to mark the occasion," TSC said.
Award Categories and Eligibility
According to TSC, more than 700 teachers will be recognised across categories including Co-Curricular Activities, Science Forums, President’s Award Honour, Special Needs Education, National Awards and Honours, Community Impact, Microsoft Innovative Educator, Innovativeness and Creativity in Curriculum Delivery, Coaching and Mentorship, and International Recognition.
The commission will also honour teachers under the Most Resilient Teacher, National Honours, and International Recognition categories.
"Nominations will be assessed using standardised evaluation criteria tailored to each award category," the TSC stated.
Eligibility requirements differ across categories, and nominees must submit evidence of their contributions, achievements, and measurable impact within the period stipulated for their respective category.
The commission will weigh each submission against criteria including innovation, inclusivity, responsiveness to learner needs, and the potential for the nominee's work to be adopted more widely.
Teachers are permitted to nominate themselves in a maximum of two categories. Colleagues and heads of institutions may also put forward nominations, though each nominator is limited to recommending up to two teachers.
Selection and Evaluation Process
Once submitted, applications will first undergo eligibility checks before being reviewed by selection panels at the sub-county, county, and regional levels, all applying evidence-based criteria.
Sub-county and county panels will each identify the top three nominees per category, while regional panels will select five and advance the best three for consideration at the national level.
The awards form part of broader annual efforts by the TSC and the Ministry of Education to recognise excellence in the teaching profession.
World Teachers' Day 2025 was marked under the theme "recasting teaching as a collaborative profession," with the commission coordinating activities alongside teachers' unions, development partners, and other education stakeholders.
The TSC, as the constitutional body mandated to manage human resources in the teaching service, describes the awards as an opportunity to celebrate teacher contributions and reinforce its commitment to an environment where educators can thrive.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.