Primary School Teachers are set to begin their Diploma Upgrading programme in Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) across the country.
A task force has recommended ECDE teachers for training so that they can be in line with the demands of the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The first cohort of teachers undergoing the Diploma Upgrading programme underwent training that began in October last year.
According to a circular dated the 6th of October 2022 that was sent to TTC principals, only eight TTCs shall be used to train teachers across the country due to the low number of teachers who have enrolled in the programme.
The low number of P1 teachers who have applied to undergo the upgrading programme has forced the Ministry of Education’s Principal Secretary to order the placement of students to be merged into eight colleges.
The PS also called on the Kenya Universities and Colleges Placement Service (KUCCPS) to redistribute the students in the eight colleges as follows;
- Murang’a TTC for Meru, Egoji and Kigari TTCs
- Thogoto TTC for Kamwenja TTC
- Aberdare TTC for Narok TTC
- Shanzu TTC for Galana and Kwale TTCs
- Kamosi TTC for Eregi, Seme, Bondo, Ugenya, Bunyore, Bishop Mahon and Chesta TTCs
- Asumbi TTC for Migori and Kenyenya TTCs
- Kericho TTC for Tambach, Baringo and Mosoriot TTCs
- Machakos TTC for Kitui, Kilimambogo and Garissa TTCs.
Many Primary Teacher Education teachers have avoided the programme due to the huge cost of training.
According to some of them, they have more responsibilities and they cannot afford to pay the fees for the upgrading programme.
Some are still hoping that the Teachers Service Commission will employ them regardless of them not taking the upgrading course.
However, the Commission has pledged to only recruit those who will upgrade their certificate to Diploma.
In the new TSC score sheet, the Commission has awarded 10 marks to teachers who shall be having a CBC upgrade certificate during the recruitment interviews.
TSC has also revealed its plan of scrapping the employment of P1 teacher employment by 2024.
In the Commission’s Framework for the employment of teachers, the Commission has set a Diploma as the minimum for employment of teachers in Kenya.
It has been revealed that the fee structure for a P1 teacher is around Kshs. 65,000 in public TTCs and Kshs. 90,000 in private TTCs in addition to paying Kshs. 15,700 for the KNEC assessment and practicum.
However, after KUCCPS began placing students in TTCs P1 teachers who are seeking the upgrade program will benefit immensely by having a huge amount paid for by the government.
Registration fees for DPTE Upgrade Programme Assessments by KNEC have been broken down into basic fee (Kshs. 1,200), assessment fee for all subjects (Kshs. 12,000) and practicum fee (Kshs. 2,500) bringing the total fee to Kshs. 15,700.
Teachers who are seeking to upgrade from PTE to Diploma Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) must meet the following requirments:
- Posses a valid PTE Certificate
- Must be registered by the Teachers Service Commission
- The duration of the course will be 1500 hours
- The course shall be fully residential
- The trainee shall take all courses specified in the upgrading programme of the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education
- The trainees shall undertake a Teaching Practicum of 300 Hours.
- To be awarded the Diploma, the trainee must complete the required hours for the Course Work and the stipulated assessment by the Kenya National Examinations Council.
According to the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), hours for professional learning areas are 414 hours, content and pedagogy 786 hours and practicum 300 hours with these accumulating to 1500 hours.