Students who scored D+ in their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination are set to benefit from a new directive from the government.
Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed directed that D+ students seeking to join teachers training colleges (TTC) can now join after the government reviewed entry grade from C to D+.
The entry point for teacher training has however been lowered in 17 counties in Kenya with an aim of boosting the number of teachers in marginalized regions.
The counties set to benefit from the new directive include Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Tana River, Turkana, Samburu, Isiolo, Lamu, and West Pokot counties.
Others are Homa Bay (Suba and Mbita sub-counties only), Narok (Narok South, North, West and East sub-counties), Baringo (Baringo North, Marigat, Tiaty East and East Pokot sub-counties), and Kajiado (Mashuru, Loitoktok, Kajiado West and Kajiado East sub-counties).
CS Amina in a letter said candidates who sat their KCSE examinations from 2006 would be eligible to join the teacher's colleges adding that those who would want to pursue a diploma in education will require a C- grade in KCSE.
She further said that counties such as Garissa, Mandera, and Wajir have been affected by a teachers’ shortage after non-local teachers fled the region due to various issues.
“The mean score will be revised to C- from 2019 when the colleges start offering diploma in primary education. Diploma TTCs will admit from the affected counties with a mean score of C-, with C- and above in two teaching subjects.”
“Kindly ensure that the students who have shown interest in training as teachers and who meet the new criteria are admitted to TTCs from this year,” said Ms Amina.