The government has acquired land in Taveta Sub-county to build a training college for primary school teachers.
Ministry of Education officials said they have identified more than 10 acres to put up the training institution in the region, where local leaders have previously raised concern over marginalization and a gap in affirmative action in the recruitment of teachers.
The County Director of Education, Simon Wanjohi, said they had already identified the location to implement the project.
“We have been allocated the land and we have a title deed to establish the primary school teacher training college. The county education board will visit Taveta Sub-county to inspect the plot and thereafter convene an education stakeholders meeting to ratify the project. The process is going on,” the education officer told a meeting in Mwatate town.
The region has a shortfall of more than 440 primary and secondary school teachers.
The shortage, according to stakeholders, had been occasioned by retirement, natural attrition, allocation of few slots for recruitment and transfers without replacement.
St Mary’s teacher’s private training college, which is owned by the Catholic Church, is the only primary school training college in the region.
Implementation of the new project will bring to five the number of public training institutions in the region.
Others include Taita Taveta University, the Coast Institute of Technology (CIT), and Voi and Taveta Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTCs).
Meanwhile, Coast Institute of Technology (CIT) will soon be converted to a national polytechnic.
The technical training institute, which has positioned itself for attainment of Kenya’s Vision 2030 goals to provide quality education, is among eight institutions in the county identified for upgrading next year.
CIT Deputy Principal, Gloria Wawuda, and board member Prof Julius Mwabora, told members of the Taita-Taveta county assembly (MCAs) recently that the institute has already been inspected by a team from the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) authorities.
Wawuda and Prof Mwabora, who is also a lecturer in the department of Physics at the University of Nairobi, were briefing the MCAs on the changing status of the institute, their views on the upgrading of the institute and change of name.
Five names have been proposed to the upgraded institution, among them Taita-Taveta National Polytechnic, Tsavo National Polytechnic, Voi National Polytechnic, Dawida-Tuweta National Polytechnic and Eliud Timothy Mwamunga National Polytechnic.
The late Mwamunga, a former Voi legislator and Cabinet Minister, donated 42-acres to put up the institution in 1981.
MCAs endorsed the proposal to have the institute elevated into a national status. Wawuda noted that once elevated, the institution will be autonomous and have its own course curriculum.
“We will soon launch a driving school in the institution to meet the high demand for drivers. We are also encouraging girls to study engineering courses,” Wawuda added.
REQUIREMENTS FOR JOINING A TTC IN KENYA TO STUDY TEACHING COURSE
The following are the recommended admission requirements for the Diploma in Primary & Early Childhood Development Teacher Education in Kenya.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DIPLOMA IN PRIMARY TEACHER EDUCATION (DPTE)
a) Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (Grade 1-6) entry grade is KCSE Mean Grade of C (Plain) or its equivalent with a C in the following cluster subjects.
i. English and Kiswahili;
ii. Mathematics;
iii. Humanities (Any);
iv. Sciences (Any).
b) For candidates with disabilities the minimum entry grade is C- (Minus) and a C- (Minus) in the cluster of subjects stated above.
c) The duration of the course shall be three (3) years in accordance with the approved Curriculum designs.
d) The Trainees shall be required to cover the recommended hours for coursework, required hours for practicum and pass the assessments as directed by Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC).
e) The Teacher Trainee shall undertake three months micro-teaching course which is a pre-requisite for teaching practice.
f) Candidates shall be required to produce evidence of adherence to positive moral values and good behaviour such as Police Clearance.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DIPLOMA IN EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER EDUCATION (DECTE)
a. The academic entry requirements for the Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE) shall be C Plain Mean Grade in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (KCSE) or its equivalent (as equated by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
b. Candidates with disabilities shall be admitted with C- (Minus) grade in KCSE or equivalent.
c. The duration for the Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE) shall be three (3) years.
d. The trainees undertaking the Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE) shall take ALL courses specified in the DECTE Curriculum.
e. The trainees shall undertake a Micro Teaching course of three (3) months which shall be a pre-requisite for the Teaching Practicum of two school terms.
f. To be awarded the Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE), the candidate must complete the required hours for coursework and pass the stipulated assessment as directed by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
g. Candidates shall be required to produce evidence of adherence to positive moral values and good behaviour such as Police Clearance.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE
All applicants wishing to be considered for training in Public Diploma Primary Teachers Colleges will be required to register in person at their home Sub- Counties.
Applicants living in cities/municipalities must also be considered for registration upon production of Kenyan Identity card.
Only K.C.S.E candidates will be registered
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Documents
Each candidate will be required to present to the panel original Certificates and National Identity Card or Application for Registration Acknowledgement (A.R.A) for scrutiny before being issued with a registration form.
These will be returned to the candidate after verification.
Each applicant will be required to attach the following documents to the registration form:-
(a) One certified copy of academic certificate/result slip.
(b) Two certified passport size photographs taken recently, (not photo me).
(c) A certified copy of Identity Card (both sides) or Application for Registration Acknowledgement (A.R.A).
(d) A certified copy of School Leaving Certificate.
(e) A certified copy of Co-curricular Activity Certificate obtained (if any).
ASSESSMENT OF CANDIDATES
The candidates will be awarded marks using the following criteria: –
(a) Academic Qualification (Mean Grade): Maximum marks will be 12.
(b) Quality of Certificate (Subjects): Maximum marks will be 84.
(c) Co-curricular activity (if any): Maximum marks will be 5.
SCORING PROCEDURE
Academic Qualification
In this part, marks will be awarded in accordance with the mean grade and the 12 points scale shown here below: –
| GRADE | POINTS |
| A | 12 |
| A- | 11 |
| B+ | 10 |
| B | 9 |
| B- | 8 |
| C+ | 7 |
| C | 6 |
| C- | 5 |
| D+ | 4 |
| D | 3 |
| D- | 2 |
| E | 1 |
Quality of Certificate
Candidates will be awarded marks based on the grades obtained in KCSE IN SUBJECTS. Award marks on the following subjects: English, Mathematics, Kiswahili, best Science subject and any other 3 best subjects, using the 12-point scale shown above.
Co-Curricular Activities
A maximum of 5 marks will be awarded for not more than one of the co-curricular activities such as football, music, debate, drama, Scouting/Girl guide, 4K club, Christian Union etc. at the highest level (National).
Marks will be awarded for meritorious performance. Evidence such as certificate or a testimonial letter should be shown.
Marks will be awarded as follows: –
(i) Zonal Level – 1
(ii) Divisional Level – 2
(iii) Sub-county Level – 3
(iv) County Level – 4
(v) National Level – 5
Length of stay since KCSE
Marks will be awarded as follows: –
| a) | 2007 – 2008 | – 20 |
| b) | 2009 – 2010 | – 15 |
| c) | 2011 – 2013 | – 10 |
| d) | 2014 – 2019 | – 5 |
Candidates should register in their home sub-county or as may be advised by the Sub- county Director of Education.
The Ministry is expected to announce the intake at the end of month of March.
Registration forms will be available online and can be downloaded from the Ministry of Education’s website, www.education.go.ke.
Hard copies will be available in the County Directors of Education (CDEs) offices.
Those with special needs are also encouraged to apply.
Candidates are advised to register in only one Centre because double registration will lead to automatic disqualification
