More than 300 students from Garissa County who were admitted to Teachers Training Colleges (TTCs) have suffered a huge blow after they were kicked out by the Education Ministry.
The students were kicked out following a decision by the Ministry of Education to terminate the training of those students with lower grades.
The ministry had allowed D+ students from marginalized regions to join TTCs.
According to Citizen Digital, Garissa Teachers Training College had admitted 300 students who had already started their classes.
The institution is currently constructing new classrooms, dormitories and other structures to accommodate the increased number of students after the education ministry lowered the minimum entry points.
The students in Garissa were admitted in January and were pursuing diploma and certificate courses in education.
“This was the first time the government was allowing students who scored C- and D+ to join the training colleges. I got here and paid school fees for one year,” said Ibrahim Konzo a student at the Garissa TTC.
Former Education Cabinet Secretary Amb Amina Mohamed last year directed that D+ students seeking to join teachers training colleges can now join after the government reviewed entry grade from C to D+.
She further said that counties such as Garissa, Mandera and Wajir had been affected by teachers’ shortage after non-local teachers fled the region due to various issues adding that the directive would ensure the region has enough teachers.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) maintained that the minimum entry requirement for students to enrol for degree and diploma programmes is C+ (Plus).
The decision has affected more than 3,265 students who had already joined teachers training colleges from marginalized regions