TSC flags as fake posters on hardship allowance, subject changes

The Teachers Service Commission Headquarters/FILE

The Teachers Service Commission has warned the public against relying on two circulating posters purporting to announce changes to hardship allowances and secondary school subject combinations, terming the information fake and misleading.

In a statement, the commission said the documents, widely shared on social media, are not official and should be disregarded.

“Reference is made to the two circulating posters regarding hardship allowance reclassifications and secondary school subject combinations. Please note that the information is not only misleading but fake,” TSC said.

One of the documents claims to outline “approved teaching subject combinations for secondary schools” under a purported TSC reference number dated April 10, 2026.

It lists combinations across science, languages, mathematics, humanities and technical subjects, and suggests that only candidates with those combinations qualify for registration and recruitment.

However, TSC said it has not issued any such directive and cautioned teachers and trainees against making academic or career decisions based on the document.

The commission reiterated that any changes affecting teacher training, registration or recruitment are communicated through official channels and follow established policy processes.

The second document purports to introduce a revised hardship allowance structure effective July 1, 2026, including a new two-tier system categorising regions into “extreme hardship” and “moderate hardship” areas.

It further lists several counties, including Garissa, Mandera, Wajir and Marsabit, as falling under full allowance, while others such as parts of Kwale, Narok, Kitui and Nyandarua are classified under reduced allowances.

The document also claims that some areas have been removed entirely from the hardship list.

TSC dismissed the claims, saying no such reclassification has been announced.

The commission warned that the circulation of unverified information risks causing confusion among teachers, especially those working in hardship areas or those seeking employment.

Teachers in marginalised regions rely on hardship allowances as part of their compensation, while subject combinations are a key requirement in teacher training and recruitment.

Any perceived changes to these areas often generate widespread concern within the education sector.

TSC urged teachers, education stakeholders and the public to verify information before sharing it and to rely only on official communication platforms.

“You are always advised to rely on official communication relayed through TSC official channels,” the commission said, listing its website, Facebook page and X account as the only authorised sources of information.

The warning comes amid increased circulation of fabricated documents online, often designed to mimic official government communication.

TSC said it remains committed to transparency and timely communication and cautioned that any genuine policy changes would be formally announced through its established channels.

The commission did not indicate whether it would take action against those responsible for creating or distributing the fake posters but emphasised the need for vigilance to curb the spread of misinformation.