TSC Signals Better Prospects for Co-Curricular Talent as Game Clinics Begin

New Recognition Drive: TSC Prioritizes Teachers Who Excel in Sports

NAIROBI, Kenya — As the second term gets underway, the education sector is buzzing with activity as games teachers across primary, junior, and secondary schools convene for intensive sports clinics.

These training sessions, held countrywide, serve as the foundational launchpad for the highly anticipated 2026 Term 2 ballgames.

Beyond skill acquisition and rule mastery, these clinics allow teachers to streamline organizational logistics for competitions spanning from the grassroots cluster and zonal levels all the way to regional and national championships.

Attendees who successfully complete these rigorous sessions are awarded certification, marking their readiness to lead school teams.

Strict Age Eligibility and Integrity Measures

The Ministry of Education has issued a stern warning regarding the integrity of school competitions, specifically targeting the rampant issue of age cheating.

To ensure fair play, the following age caps are in strict effect:

• Primary Schools: Strictly for learners aged under 12 years.
• Junior Secondary Schools: Strictly for students aged under 15 years.
• Secondary Schools: Strictly for students under 18 years; adult participants are officially banned.

Birth certificates remain the mandatory document for age verification.

The Ministry has warned that any teacher found forging or tampering with these documents will not only face disqualification but will be handed over to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for severe disciplinary action.

The 2026 Discipline Roster

According to Mamai Etiang, Secretary General of the Kenya Primary and Junior School Sports Association (KPJSSA), the term is packed with high-stakes talent discovery.

Category	Disciplines & Team Composition
Primary	Soccer (22), Volleyball (12), Netball (14), Handball (14), Chess (6 – U10/U12)
Junior School	Soccer (22), Volleyball (12), Netball (14), Handball (14), Basketball 3×3 (6), Chess (6 – U13/U14)

A Career-Defining Shift: TSC Recognizes Talent

In a strategic move to professionalize talent development, the TSC has officially linked co-curricular excellence to career progression.

In a circular dated February 9, 2026, TSC Director of Staffing, Antonina Lentoijoni, mandated that all County Directors develop and maintain a comprehensive database of teachers who excel in mainstream co-curricular activities.

This database will serve as a key metric for teacher management interventions and promotions. The TSC now requires records for:

• Sports: Coaches, Referees, Umpires, and Technical Officials.
• Drama and Film: Directors, Producers, and Adjudicators.
• Music: Directors and Adjudicators (Kenya National Music Festivals).
• Science: Advisors, Project Directors, and Judges (Kenya Science and Engineering Fair).

Teachers are encouraged to ensure their participation records—whether at the Sub-County, County, Regional, National, or East African level—are accurately documented and verifiable.

For clarifications, teachers may liaise with the Regional Director (Nairobi), Dr. Samuel Marigat, the designated liaison between the TSC and the Ministry of Education.

2026 National Co-Curricular Calendar

Basic Education Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok already released the official schedule for the 2026 national championships:

• Term 2 School National Games (Thika, Kiambu):
  • Clinic: July 25th–26th, 2026.
  • Action Dates: July 28th – August 1st, 2026.
• Kenya Music Festivals (Bungoma):
  • Action Days: August 2nd–10th, 2026; Gala: August 11th–12th.
• FEASSA Games (Tanzania):
  • Action Days: August 14th–22nd, 2026.
• East Africa Music, Dance & Drama (Soroti, Uganda):
  • Action Days: August 18th–23rd, 2026.

Regional Directors of Education have been instructed to distribute this calendar widely, ensuring every school remains aligned as the race to the national stage begins.