The Ministry of Education has scrapped the Primary Teacher Education (P1) and Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) courses in new reforms.
In a move to align the education sector, Education PS Belio Kipsang' stated that there would be no admissions to pre-primary and primary school teacher training colleges.
This, he explained, would allow institutions to prepare for the new programme - a diploma in primary education. course- which will is expected to commence in September 2020.
The course will take students three years to complete, as compared to the current two-year course.
“The ministry has decided there will be no intake for preprimary and P1 teacher training this year so that the colleges can embark on preparation for the implementation of diploma in primary education course, which will start in September 2020,” Dr Kipsang’ was quoted by the Daily Nation.
He explained that the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), which had been tasked with developing the Teacher Education Framework, was in its final stages.
ECDE Teachers Union National Chairman Lawrence Otunga stated that the PS' directive accommodated the union members' wants.
“Our colleagues who joined colleges in April and August 2019 will now continue with their training in peace,” he stated.
According to Daily Nation, teacher training colleges have been admitting over 20,000 students every year.
Statistics from the ministry show that only 106,000 teachers have been trained in the new curriculum.
