Nancy Njeri Macharia has been a pivotal figure in Kenya’s education sector as the Chief Executive Officer of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) since her appointment in 2015.
Over her decade-long tenure, Macharia has driven significant reforms to modernize teacher management and improve education quality, earning both praise and criticism. Her leadership has been marked by ambitious policy changes, technological advancements, and efforts to enhance teacher welfare, but it has also faced scrutiny over labor disputes, policy implementation challenges, and stakeholder relations.
As her second term nears its end in 2025, Macharia’s legacy is a complex tapestry of triumphs and trials, reflecting the challenges of leading a critical institution in Kenya’s education system.
[Early Life and Rise to Leadership Born Nyeri County, Kenya, Nancy Macharia’s journey to the helm of TSC is a testament to her academic rigor and professional tenacity.
She holds a Bachelor of Education (Arts) and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Nairobi, complemented by a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Planning from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).
Her academic credentials were bolstered by extensive administrative experience, including roles as Deputy Director of Education and Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education before her appointment as TSC CEO. Macharia’s appointment in June 2015 came at a time when the TSC needed a steady hand to navigate a rapidly evolving education landscape.
As the first woman to lead the commission, she brought a blend of administrative expertise and a commitment to reforming teacher management, a role that oversees over 350,000 teachers and millions of students across Kenya.
Key Reforms and Achievements Macharia’s tenure has been defined by bold reforms aimed at professionalizing the teaching workforce and aligning it with Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Among her flagship initiatives was the introduction of the Teacher Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) system in 2016. TPAD sought to enhance accountability by standardizing teacher evaluations, ensuring that performance metrics were data-driven and aligned with educational goals.
Despite initial resistance from teachers, who viewed it as bureaucratic, the system has been credited with improving classroom outcomes and fostering professional development. Another cornerstone of Macharia’s leadership was the implementation of the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), which replaced the outdated Schemes of Service.
The CPG provided clearer pathways for teacher promotions based on merit and qualifications, addressing long-standing grievances about stagnation. By 2023, thousands of teachers had benefited from promotions, with data from TSC indicating over 100,000 teachers upgraded since the guidelines were rolled out in 2018.
Macharia also championed the delocalization policy, which aimed to distribute teachers equitably across Kenya to address regional disparities in education access.
While the policy was lauded for promoting national cohesion, it sparked significant backlash from teachers’ unions, who argued it disrupted family structures and ignored teachers’ personal circumstances. Her embrace of technology further transformed TSC operations.
The digitization of teacher records, payroll systems, and recruitment processes reduced inefficiencies and curbed corruption. The online recruitment portal, introduced in 2019, streamlined hiring, making it more transparent and competitive.
Additionally, Macharia oversaw the implementation of the Teachers Medical Scheme, providing comprehensive health coverage to over 300,000 teachers and their dependents, a move hailed as a significant boost to teacher welfare.
Challenges and Criticisms Despite her achievements, Macharia’s tenure has not been without controversy.
Her leadership style, often described as resolute and uncompromising, has drawn criticism from teachers’ unions, particularly the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET).
The delocalization policy, for instance, led to widespread protests, with KNUT arguing that it was implemented without adequate consultation. The policy was partially reversed in 2022 following sustained pressure, highlighting tensions between Macharia’s reformist agenda and stakeholder demands.
The TPAD system also faced significant pushback. Teachers complained about its time-consuming nature and perceived punitive approach, with some arguing it added unnecessary administrative burdens.
A 2021 report by KUPPET noted that 60% of teachers felt TPAD was demoralizing, prompting TSC to revise the system to make it more user-friendly. Macharia’s handling of labor disputes further strained relations with unions.
Frequent strikes, particularly in 2017 and 2019, exposed deep-seated frustrations over salaries, promotions, and working conditions.
While Macharia successfully negotiated the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which increased teachers’ salaries by up to 32%, critics argued that the increments were insufficient given the rising cost of living.
The failure to fully implement the 2021-2025 CBA due to budgetary constraints further fueled discontent.
Her tenure also coincided with the challenging rollout of the CBC, which required extensive teacher retraining. While Macharia spearheaded nationwide training programs, reaching over 200,000 teachers by 2024, critics pointed to gaps in resource allocation and inadequate preparation for the curriculum’s demands, particularly in rural schools.
[Legacy and Future Implications As Dr. Nancy Macharia’s second term nears its conclusion in 2025, her legacy is a subject of intense debate. Supporters credit her with modernizing the TSC, enhancing teacher professionalism, and laying the groundwork for a more equitable education system.
The digitization of TSC processes, the introduction of TPAD, and the medical scheme are likely to endure as hallmarks of her tenure.
Data from the Ministry of Education shows a 15% improvement in teacher attendance and a 10% rise in student performance in TSC-monitored schools between 2015 and 2023, metrics often attributed to her reforms. However,
critics argue that her top-down approach alienated key stakeholders, particularly teachers, whose morale remains a concern.
The persistent tensions with unions and the uneven implementation of policies like delocalization and CBC underscore the challenges of balancing reform with inclusivity.
A 2024 survey by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) found that only 45% of teachers felt adequately supported under Macharia’s leadership, a statistic that reflects the polarized views on her tenure.
Looking ahead, Macharia’s successor will inherit a transformed yet contentious TSC. The next CEO will need to address ongoing labor disputes, fully implement the CBC, and rebuild trust with teachers’ unions while sustaining Macharia’s gains in digitization and teacher welfare.
Speculation about her next move is rife, with some suggesting she may take up a role in international education policy, leveraging her experience in large-scale reforms.
