Teachers with a Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) will have an advantage in TSC recruiting interviews.
In various recognized Teacher Training Colleges (TTC) across the country, over 229,000 teachers are now studying for the Diploma.
The Commission CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia, during the release of KCSE results in Nairobi, said she is happy that this lot will soon be out and will help in implementing the new curriculum.
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A number of Commission officials have hailed P1 teachers who are upgrading their skills and are part of the 229,000 set to graduate with the new Diploma.
A week ago, Mr. David Nganyi, who is the TSC Coast Regional Director in charge of Quality Assurance and Standards, assured the trainee teachers of firsthand employment once they successfully graduate.
Nganyi who was speaking during the Kenya Teachers Colleges Sports Association (KTCA) Coast Region Athletics Championship held at Shanzu TTC, said there is no way TSC could employ the unskilled when there are skilled once out there.
“We are eargerly waiting for you, as soon as you graduate we will directly absorb you so long as you have passed all the units,” said Nganyi.
TSC Director for Quality Assurance and Standards, Dr. Reuben Nthamburi, hinted at giving priority to teachers with CBC abilities at the end of last year.
Nthamburi encouraged teachers who have not yet enrolled in the upgrade program to do so before it is too late.
A taskforce suggested that both P1 and ECDE teachers take the necessary training to keep up with the new curriculum’s demands. The program began in October of last year.
At the end of the training, the trainees will receive a Diploma certificate.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) asked college Principals to register Diploma upgrading students for the national assessments by 13th May 2022.
Registration Fees for DPTE Upgrade Programme Assessments
| Assessment Fee Payment Breakdown | Amount (Kes) |
| Basic Fee | 1,200 |
| Assessment Fee for all Subjects | 12,000 |
| Practicum Fee | 2,500 |
| Total Assessment Fees | 15,700 |
The professional learning areas in the CBTEC have been updated to include new content in order to connect them with competency-based curriculum.
Because the CBTEC expects a primary school teacher to be well-versed in all of the courses taught in primary schools, upgrading PTE teacher trainees will be exempted from the subjects in which they had specialized and will only study those subjects that they did not take in the certificate course.
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) presented an upgrade program, which was divided into three parts:
- Professional Learning Areas – 414 hours
- Content and Pedagogy – 786 hours
- Practicum – 300 hour
Total – 1,500 hours
For DPTE, the upgrade program will take four terms. Despite TTC Principals’ recommendation to prolong it by six months, this term will not be extended.
Graduates of the Upgrading Program are expected to teach all of the subjects available in the training area.
The next intake for P1 teachers who desire to upgrade to the new Diploma will be in September 2022.
Blended learning and distance learning will be addressed in the future, according to the taskforce.
CALENDAR FOR DIPLOMA UPGRADING STUDENTS
| Term | Opening | Closing | Duration |
| Term 1 | 4th October 2021 | 23rd December 2021 | 12 weeks |
| Holiday | 23rd December 2021 | 3rd January 2022 | 1 week |
| Term 2 | 3rd January 2022 | 8th April 2022 | 14 weeks |
| Holiday | 8th April 2022 | 29th April 2022 | 3 weeks |
| Term 3 | 3rd May 2022 | 5th August 2022 | 14 weeks |
| Holiday | 6th August 2022 | 25th September 2022 | 7 weeks |
| Term 4 | 26th September 2022 | 25th November 2022 | 9 week practicum |
For P1 teachers who want to upgrade to Diploma Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) they must meet the following requirements;
- The applicant must possess a valid PTE Certificate
- The applicant must be registered by the Teachers Service Commission.
- The duration of the course shall be 1500 Hours.
- The Course shall be fully residential.
- The trainee shall take all courses specified in the upgrading programme of 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 Course Work and the stipulated assessment by the Kenya National Examination Council.
- Applicants shall be required to produce evidence of adherence to positive morals and good behavior.
