The Ministry of Education (MOE) has ordered for re-registration of all teacher training colleges (TTCs).
Through a circular sent yesterday, 10TH February 2021, to all County Directors of Education (CDEs) the reregistration of the TTCs has been ordered to start immediately.
This comes at a time when the Ministry is transiting the training teachers in Primary Teachers Colleges from P1 certificate to Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE).
The Ministry of Education has authorized only 41 teacher training colleges to offer the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education.
The colleges registered and approved to offer the coveted teacher training are;
1. Migori TTC 21. Kaimosi TTC
2. Asumbi TTC 22. St. Augustine TTC
3. St Paul’s Nyaburu TT€ 23. St. Mark’s Kigari TIC
4. Kenyenya TIC 24. Fr Solati TTC
5. Borabu TTC 25. Meru TTC
6. Muranga TTC 26. Egoji TTC
7. Kilimambogo TTC 27. Shanzu TTC
8. Kamwenja TTC 28. Mandera TTC
9. Aberderes TTC 29. Kericho TIC
10. Thogoto TTC 30. Narok TTC
11. Kericho West TTC 31. Garissa TTC
12. Chest TTC 32. Kitui TTC
13. Rachuonyo TIC 33. Machakos TTC
14 Madonna TTC 34 Mwingi TTC
15 Rongai TTC 35 Mwingi West TTC
16 Mosoriot TTC 36 Holy Rosay TTC
17 Moi Baringo TTC 37 Mutitu Adventist TTC
18 Tambach TTC 38. Eastern Kenya Integrated College
19 Bunyore ITC 39 Sunrise TTC
20 Eregi ITC 40 International College TTC
41. Galana TTC
The Ministry of Education further said training of teachers for Diploma Teacher Education and Early Childhood Education (ECDE) will only take place in the registered teacher colleges and not any other place.
This is a blow to those who seek to pursue studies in Early Childhood Education which often takes place in schools during school holidays.
“It is also directed that all training of teachers for Diploma in Primary Education and Early Childhood Education will be conducted in registered public and private colleges and not any other venue,” read the circular by Hassan Abdi on behalf of Principal Secretary.
The Ministry directed the County Directors ensure re-registration of the TTCs are concluded by 28th February 2021.
REGISTRATION OF CANDIDATES FOR 2021 TEACHER EDUCATION EXAMINATIONS
The Kenya National Examinations Council said it will be administering the following Teacher Education examinations in 2021:
1 Diploma in Special Needs Education – SNE
2 Diploma in Teacher Education – DTE
3 Early Childhood Development and Education – ECDE
4 Primary Teacher Education – PTE
5 Teacher Certificate In Adult Education – TCAE
Following the release of the revised term dates by the Ministry of Education, KNEC informed all the Heads of Teacher Training Institutions that the key dates for various Teacher Education examination processes have been rescheduled as follows:
Key Activities and Dates For Teacher Education Examinations
| ACTIVITY | SNE | DTE | ECDE | PTE/TCAE |
| Online registration of Candidates | 1st March to 30th April | 1st March to 30th April | 1st March to 30th April | 1st March to 30th April |
| Return of registration materials to KNEC by colleges | 3rd to 10th May | 3rd to 10th May | 3rd to 10th May | 3rd to 10th May |
| Assessment of candidates with special needs | 2nd to 11th June | 2nd to 11th June | 2nd to 11th June | 2nd to 11th June |
| Assessment of teaching practice | September | September | October | September |
| Examinations period | July/August | July/August | December | July/August |
1. All candidates who have been referred in previous PTE and TCAE examinations are eligible to register for the referred papers in the year 2021.
2. There will be no registration for the Proficiency in Early Childhood Development Education.
3. The current Certificate and Diploma in ECDE course will be offered for the last time year 2021 as the curriculum for ECDE is expected to change in the year 2022.
4. The Heads of Teacher Training Institutions and Sub County Directors of Education are requested to bring this information to the attention of the Trainees and candidates who have been referred in the previous Examinations.
TTCs TO HAVE FIRST INTAKE IN MAY
Already the Ministry of education is finalizing its plans to enable Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) admit the first cohort of diploma teacher trainees after the Government scrapped the p1 certificate course as well as the ECDE certificate courses in a bold move to implement the new curriculum in schools.
The first intake of Diploma Teacher Trainees will happen in May 2021 and applications are expected to be online.
HOW TO APPLY FOR DIPLOMA IN PRIMARY EDUCATION ONLINE 2021
• Visit the KUCCPS student portal Click here to visit
• Click on ‘Login’ and then enter your KCSE Index Number
• Next, enter your KCSE year
• Under the password – Use Your Birth Certificate No. or KCPE Index No (as used in KCSE Exam Registration) as your Initial Password
• Make application as per your area of interest and qualifications.
• Wait for communication from KUCCPS on your placement results.
• Proceed to download your admission letter and report to the selected TTC on the specified dates.
Already plans are complete to admit the first cohort of diploma teacher trainees after the Government scrapped certificate courses in a bold move to implement the new curriculum in schools.
Under the new tuition regime, diploma will be the minimum training level for all primary school teachers in the country as the Government lays out plans for quality teaching and learning.
ABOUT DPTE IN SUMMARY
Entry requirements
The entry requirements shall be C Plain in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination (KCSE) or its equivalent as equated by the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec).
Course duration
The duration for the diploma training shall be three years, according to the approved curriculum designs.
Specialization
The teachers’ trainees will only specialise in three subject areas, having attained a minimum KCSE grade of C (Plain) in the learning areas they wish to focus on.
The areas for specialisation have been grouped into four clusters, but teachers will only pick one subject per category for specialty.
Candidates shall specialise from the first year in at least three learning areas preferably from any one of the four clusters.
Cluster 1 subjects
-Kenya Sign Language
-Indigenous Languages
-Foreign Languages (German, French, Arabic and Mandarin (Chinese).
Cluster 2 subjects
-Mathematics
-Home Science
-Agriculture
Science and Technology
Cluster 3 subjects
-Social Studies
-Religious Education (CRE, HRE, IRE)
Cluster 4 subjects
-Art and Craft
-Music
Mandatory subjects;
English,
Kiswahili,
Physical and Health Education (PHE)
Kenya sign language for hearing impaired.
The mandatory learning areas will build on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of the young teacher for effective lesson delivery.
Evaluation
Those who will be approved to teach in schools will have completed the required hours for coursework and passed the stipulated assessment as directed by Knec.
They will also be required to have completed the required hours for the practicum and passed the stipulated assessment as directed by KNEC.
There shall be three months micro-teaching undertaken as a course and will be a pre-requisite for teaching practice.
During this period, teacher trainees will prepare learning and teaching materials and short lessons, which they will try on their peers for practice and feedback.
Placement
These trainees upon completion of the course will be registered by Teachers service commission (TSC) to teach in primary schools and ECDE centres across the country.
Details of Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) training reveal that the curriculum has been reformed with core learning areas approved.
These areas are professional courses; teacher support courses; English, Kiswahili or KSL for trainees who are hearing-impaired; and physical and health education.
The entry requirements shall be C Plain in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination (KCSE) or its equivalent as equated by the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec).
The duration for the diploma training shall be three years, according to the approved curriculum designs.
The designs will guide trainers and trainees on how best to deliver quality learning and teaching in tandem with the requirements of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The first group of diploma teachers will be admitted to various colleges in May, marking an end to certificates training.
There are 31 public training colleges and some 85 private colleges.
Ministry of Education suspended admissions to P1 training classes last year, saying the move is aimed at making arrangements to take in diploma students.
Magoha said the development is key for sustainable capacity development of teachers and to improve the quality of education under the CBC.
The CS said this category of teachers will be trained specifically on how to teach pupils under the CBC.
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) acting Chief Executive Officer Joel Mabonga said Kenya needs competent teachers to be able to nurture every learner’s potential as enshrined in the CBC framework.
“The mission of the teacher education curriculum is to develop a competent teacher who is committed to nurturing every learner’s potential,” said Dr Mabonga in an interview.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said micro-teaching and practicum in teacher education have been given prominence in order to enhance experiential and reflective learning with support from experienced teachers as mentors.
“Teacher training colleges will ensure that the teacher trainee receives appropriate training and professional development which will accord them an opportunity to engage in research,” said Kipsang.
Unlike before when content was being taught separately with methodology, in the diploma course, trainees will be taken through an integrated concept of content and pedagogy.
For example, in an English lesson, a trainee will be first taken through how to pronounce letters, and then the concept is transferred to actual teaching where they are guided on how to deliver the content in a class session.
At the end of the training, a teacher should be able to develop and assess the educational competencies required of a learner.
According to the designs, the teachers’ trainees will only specialise in three subject areas, having attained a minimum KCSE grade of C (Plain) in the learning areas they wish to focus on.
The areas for specialisation have been grouped into four clusters, but teachers will only pick one subject per category for specialty.
Kenya Sign Language, Indigenous Languages, Foreign Languages (German, French, Arabic and Mandarin (Chinese) fall under the first cluster.
Mathematics, Home Science, Agriculture, Science and Technology are cluster two subjects with Social Studies, Religious Education (CRE, HRE, IRE) listed under cluster three. Cluster four subjects are Art and Craft, Music.
“Candidates shall specialise from the first year in at least three learning areas preferably from any one of the three clusters,” reads Curriculum Designs for Diploma in Primary Teacher Education.
Subjects such as English, Kiswahili, and Physical Health Education (PHE) will be mandatory, but not necessarily specialties.
The three mandatory learning areas will build on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of the young teacher for effective lesson delivery.
Those who will be approved to teach in schools will have completed the required hours for coursework and passed the stipulated assessment as directed by Knec.
They will also be required to have completed the required hours for the practicum and passed the stipulated assessment as directed by Knec.
There shall be three months micro-teaching undertaken as a course and will be a pre-requisite for teaching practice.
During this period, teacher trainees will prepare learning and teaching materials and short lessons, which they will try on their peers for practice and feedback.
