TSC opens World Teachers’ Day 2026 Awards nominations as deadline nears

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has launched a call for nominations for the 2026 World Teachers’ Day Awards in Kenya. The nominations are open to serving and retired teachers who have made outstanding contributions to the field of education. The awards will be presented on World Teachers’ Day, which falls on October 5, 2026. The theme for this year’s awards is "Twawaenzi Walimu – Mashujaa Wetu," which translates to "Distinguished Teachers – Our Heroes."

TSC is seeking nominations for teachers and education leaders who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, innovation, leadership, and measurable impact in teaching and learning. Eligible institutions for nominations include primary, junior, secondary, and senior schools, as well as teacher training colleges in Kenya. Nominees must have served in these recognized public, private, or international learning institutions.

The framework for the awards includes several categories, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award for teachers with at least 20 years of experience, the Early Years Educator Award for those with excellence in lower primary education, and the Innovation and ICT Integration in Teaching Award. Retired teachers are also eligible to participate by submitting their nominations through the sub-county where they last served.

Nominations can be submitted by teachers, colleagues, or heads of institutions. To be considered, nominees must provide evidence of their impact, such as learner outcomes, institutional records, testimonials, awards, reports, certificates, photographs, and publications. Each teacher can be nominated for a maximum of two categories.

TSC will conduct an eligibility check before moving the nominations through several selection stages, including sub-county, county, and regional levels. At the regional level, the top five nominees in each category will be recognized for the World Teachers’ Day celebrations. The Commission will assess nominees based on relevance, measurable impact, innovation, inclusivity, sustainability, professional development, and the strength of supporting evidence. The nominations are due by Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 11 pm East Africa Time.