The Teachers Service Commission has briefly reopened the TPAD portal to allow teachers with incomplete entries to finish appraisals and for administrators to appraise and countersign. The window is short. Teachers should act quickly to complete teaching standards, learner progress and attendance sections, and upload verified evidence to avoid last-minute errors.
Key Takeaways
- The TPAD portal is open briefly for late submissions and countersigning.
- Teachers must complete subject-level scores, learner progress and attendance records online.
- Heads and appraisers must review, appraise and countersign promptly to allow summaries to be compiled.
- Organising scanned evidence and following the appraisal sequence reduces errors in TPAD summaries.
TPAD portal: What teachers must do now
Log in early and avoid the final hours. Complete the teaching standards section by entering scores that reflect your practice. Under the revised format, submit separate scores for each learning area you teach. For example, record distinct evaluations for Art and Craft, Music, and Physical Education if you handle Creative Arts and Sports.
Scan and organise supporting documents before uploading. Lesson observation forms, attendance registers and learner progress notes should be ready so uploads are quick and accurate. If you teach multiple subjects, set aside time for each learning area to avoid rushed entries.
Role of school administrators in completing appraisals
Appraisers — heads, principals and designated supervisors — must appraise staff on the portal and then be appraised themselves. Countersigning finalises a teacher’s submission. Delays at this stage stop the whole process.
Appraisers should provide evidence-based comments that support professional growth. Avoid ticking boxes without constructive feedback. Where a countersignature is withheld, record the reason and communicate it clearly to the teacher.
From portal entries to TPAD summaries
Once individual TPADs are complete and countersigned, schools compile TPAD summaries. This work is usually handled by ICT teachers or a designated officer. They should only compile the summary when all entries are final to prevent rework caused by late changes.
Accuracy matters: the school summary averages individual scores. A single missing or incorrect entry can skew results and force a restart. Follow this sequence: teachers submit → appraisers review and countersign → designated officer compiles and submits the summary to the Sub-County Director via the zonal CSO.
Technology, training and trust
Technical glitches exposed weaknesses in the system. The Commission plans upgrades and teacher training on digital tools and AI for education. Teachers must be able to demonstrate their digital competence on a stable platform.
Schools in areas with poor internet or limited devices are most at risk. Document any portal faults and report them through the right channels so affected staff are not penalised for systemic failures.
Practical checklist before submitting
- Log in early and verify access to the TPAD portal.
- Complete teaching standards, learner progress and attendance sections.
- Scan and name evidence files clearly (observations, registers, learner work).
- Ask appraisers to review and countersign with time for feedback.
- Only then compile the TPAD summary and submit to the Sub-County Director.
Lessons for the next term
The TPAD calendar exists to spread appraisal tasks across the term. Hold planning meetings early, submit professional records in the first week, and carry out observations between weeks two and ten. Following the calendar reduces system peaks and turns a portal fault into a manageable delay rather than a crisis.
Teachers preparing evidence and lesson records may find the following resources helpful for classroom practice and documentation: CBC exams practice materials, CBC lesson plans for classroom records, and CBC curriculum designs. These resources can help align evidence with the Competency-Based Curriculum standards assessed in TPAD.
Use the reopened window wisely: complete entries early, secure proper appraisals and countersigning, and only compile summaries when every TPAD record is final. This approach minimizes errors and closes the term with appraisals in order.
