Students who are joining universities to pursue Bachelor of Education degrees will now spend more time in the institutions of higher level of learning in line with the new proposals in the competency-based curriculum (CBC).
According to the latest proposal, the trainees will be required to spend at least five years in Universities before graduating.
Currently, students pursuing Bachelor of Education degrees take four years, like most undergraduate courses in the country.
This proposal follows a letter written by Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) chief executive Agnes Wahome to vice-chancellors in both public and private universities directing them to adjust and review their programmes to align with proposals from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
"On February 24, the placement service received proposals on the reviewed placement criteria to degree programmes from the TSC," Wahome stated.
The new proposals take cognisance of the introduction of some new courses in CBC following recommendations by the task force.
"This will assist the commission to handle the new areas that have been introduced in the CBC for junior and senior secondary. the whole course will take five years and a half," TSC CEO Nancy Macharia disclosed.
In the proposals, students will be expected to take a two full-term teaching practice of six months after completing the course.
Students will be selected according to a set of criteria that will be made public by TSC informing the entire process.
KUCCPS have become a central body for the placement of students after the Ministry of Education issued a directive. Principal Secretary for Early Learning and Basic Education, Dr Julius Jwan announced that all applications to TTCs will be conducted by the Kenya KUCCPS.
PS Jwan noted that the new recruitment formula through KUCCPS will enable the applicants to benefit from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) assistance just like students in other institutions.
According to an education expert who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke, the new directives are aimed at strengthening the understanding of CBC.
"With the introduction of new courses to teachers, the government is determined to ensure that the nation reaps from the proceeds of CBC. At the moment it is still facing some opposition and even challenges in terms of implementation. But I'm sure with the latest measures, the government will get it right with CBC," he insisted.
